TNAG-1491-FCO40-2049-Future-of-Hong-Kong-General-Agreement-on-Tariffs-and-Trade-(-1986 — Page 188

HKK 040/2

RECENT

STRY

31 JAN 1986

GRS 175

CONFIDENTIAL

FM UKREP BRUSSELS

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELNO 293

OF 291542Z JANUARY 86

CONFIDENTIAL

TOP COPY

INFO ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA, HONG KONG

FCO TELNO 168 TO HONG KONG: HONG KONG AND THE GATT

DRAWING

1. AS ARRANGED, WE BRIEFED LUYTEN (DGI) THIS MORNING, GENERALLY ON REPORTS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP MEETING EARLIER THIS MONTH (TELEGRAMS COPIED TO US BY THE DEPARTMENT) TO EXPLAIN UK OBJECTIVES AND THE CURRENT SITUATION.

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2. WE EMPHASISED THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE AT A VERY DELICATE STAGE, AND THAT IF ANY SUGGESTION THAT WE WERE 'LOBBYING'' REACHED THE CHINESE, IT COULD HAVE ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES. WE TOLD HIM THAT WE WOULD NOT (NOT) BRIEF OUR MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS UNTIL MATTERS WERE FURTHER ADVANCED. THE ACCOUNT WAS FOR LUYTEN'S PERSONAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION ONLY, IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY RISK OF CROSSING WIRES WHEN THE QUESTION OF CHINA'S GATT MEMBERSHIP WAS BEING CONSIDERED.

3. LUYTEN WAS GRATEFUL FOR THE BRIEFING. HE EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR OUR OBJECTIVES IN THE NEGOTIATIONS, AND UNDERTOOK TO OBSERVE COMPLETE DISCRETION ON THE MATTER (WE AGREED TO HIS SUGGESTION THAT HE SHOULD LET ABBOTT KNOW IN GENERAL TERMS HOW MATTERS STOOD, BUT WITHOUT PUTTING ANYTHING IN WRITING).

HANNAY

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS

ECD ()

RESEARCH D (FE)

D/HD PUSD

MP WILSON

MR RENWick

CONFIDENTIAL

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