TNAG-1491-FCO40-2049-Future-of-Hong-Kong-General-Agreement-on-Tariffs-and-Trade-(-1986 — Page 180

GRS 200

CONFIDENTIAL

FM UKREP BRUSSELS

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 248

OF 24170OZ JANUARY 86

CONFIDENTIAL

HAM 04012

ник

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

- 3 FEB 1986

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

INFO ROUTINE UKATS GENEVA, HONG KONG, PEKING

42)

HONG KONG TELNO 257: HONG KONG AND THE GATT

ฟ

1. A CONFIDENTIAL BACKGROUND BRIEFING BY UKREP STAFF TO COMMISSION OFFICIALS IS NOT IN MY VIEW DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY. WE ARE IN CONSTANT INFORMAL TOUCH WITH DGI TO EXCHANGE VIEWS ON TRADE POLICY MATTERS ON WHICH THE COMMISSION REPRESENTS THE COMMUNITY (AND MEMBER STATES DO NOT ACT INDEPENDENTLY). MOREOVER WE ARE NOT ASKING THE COMMISSION TO DO ANYTHING WITH REGARD TO THE HONG KONG ISSUE. OUR BRIEFING IS INTENDED TO ENSURE THAT THEY DO AND SAY NOTHING IN THE CHINA/GATT MEMBERSHIP CONTEXT WHICH PREJUDICES THE ATTAINMENT OF OUR OBJECTIVES OVER HONG KONG. WE WOULD PROPOSE SPECIFICALLY TO WARN THEM AGAINST ADMITTING TO ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE HONG KONG NEGOTIATIONS.

2. HOWEVER HELPFUL IT MIGHT BE FOR THE BRIEFING TO BE CARRIED OUT BY HO IN VIEW OF HIS PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE EXPERT TALKS, IT WOULD CERTAINLY CONSTITUTE DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY IF A REPRESENTATIVE OF HONG KONG WERE TO CALL ON THE COMMISSION TO BRIEF THEM ABOUT HONG

KONG'S POSITION.

3. WE HAVE ALREADY FIXED WITH LUYTEN TO BRIEF HIM ON 29 JANUARY AND INTEND TO PROCEED ON THE BASIS OF YOUR TELNO 32 UNLESS INSTRUCTED

OTHERWISE.

HANNAY

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

RESEARCH D (FE)

D/HD PUSD

COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS

MR WILSON

CONTIDENTIAL

42

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