TNAG-1492-FCO40-2050-Future-of-Hong-Kong-General-Agreement-on-Tariffs-and-Trade-(-1986 — Page 157

CONFIDENTIAL

LOCAL THAT DAY. IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE CHINESE WOULD SAY FIRSTLY THAT WE WERE ONCE AGAIN PROVIDING THEM

WITH NADEQUATE TIME FOR INTERNAL CONSULTATION AND SECONDLY THAT

THIS PROPOSED TIMING FOR A RELEASE IN HONG KONG DID NOT COME SUFFICIENTLY LONG AFTER CURCULATION OF THE DECLARATIONS TO GATT CPS. THEY COULD (HOWEVER ILLOGICALLY) ARGUE THAT THE GATT SECRETAR KAT'S PRESS RELEASE (OF WHICH THEY WOULD BY THEN INEVITABLY

HAVE HEARD FROM THE CHINESE REPRESENTATIVE AT GENEVA) SUFFICED

AND THAT NO SEPARATE HONG KONG (OR PEKING) PRESS RELEASE WOULD

BE NECESSARY. WE THEREFORE MUCH HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE CONTENT

FOR US TO STICK TO THE ORIGINAL GAME-PLAN WHEREBY HONG KONG'S

PRESS RELEASE WOULD BE ISSUED ON 25 APRIL. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL

IF HONG KONG COULD GIVE US AN HINDICATION OF THE PRECISE TAME AT

WHICH THEY WOULD INTEND THEIR PRESS RELEASE TO BE ISSUED ON THAT

DAY.

EVANS

HONG KONG AGREEMENT : RESTRICTED

LIVITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD (ECD (E)

COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS

RESEARCH D (FE)

DEP/HD PUSD PS/MR RENTON MR WILSON

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CONFIDENTIAL