TNAG-2110-FCO40-3009-Hong-Kong-participation-in-international-organisations-1990 — Page 33

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TELNO 3355

нисо

HKC031/10 CONFIDENTIAL

19 max 1951

AMENDED DISTRIBUTION 19/11

TO ROUTINE FCO

OF 150745Z NOVEMBER 90

As Majer

TOP COPY Q DIST?

INFO ROUTINE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KON

HK/CANADA FILM CO-PRODUCTION

199)

105512

MDLIAN 7980

Mr

Sghty

You are

pursuing.

1. THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT APPROACHED US IN APRIL 1990, SEEKING TO NEGOTIATE A FORMAL HK/CANADA FILM CO-PRODUCTION AGREEMENT.

THIS WAS RAISED WITH THE GOVERNOR AGAIN WHEN HE VISITED CANADA IN

MAY 1990. BOTH THE UK AND THE PRC HAVE A FILM CO-PRODUCTION AGREEMENT WITH CANADA, BUT HK IS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER. WE CONSIDER THAT SUCH AN AGREEMENT WOULD BE OF BENEFIT TO HK E.G.

CO-PRODUCTIONS WOULD BE CONSIDERED AS NATIONAL PRODUCTS BY CANADA

AND WOULD BE ENTITLED TO MORE FAVOURABLE TREATMENT. THERE WOULD BE OTHER BENEFITS WITH REGARD TO THE ENTRY AND TEMPORARY

RESIDENCY OF FILM CO-PRODUCTION PERSONNEL AND THE MOVEMENT OF EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES. CONSULTATION WITH THE LOCAL FILM INDUSTRY HAS CONFIRMED THIS.

2. WE HAVE AGREED WITH THE CANADIAN COMMISSION THAT OUR COMMON OBJECTIVE IS TO HAVE SOME SORT OF ARRANGEMENT IN PLACE A.S.A.P.

WE ARE CONSCIOUS THAT A FORMAL BILATERAL AGREEMENT MIGHT TAKE LONGER TO CONCLUDE, BEARING IN MIND THE NEED FOR A LOCAL LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK, PRIOR CONSULTATION WITH THE CHINESE, ETC. WE CONSIDER THAT THE BEST WAY FORWARD WOULD BE TO SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) WITH THE CANADIANS THAT WOULD

LAST BEYOND 1997.

3. WE ENVISAGE THAT THE BEST TIME TO SIGN THE MOU WOULD BE IN JUNE 1991 TO COINCIDE WITH A CANADA WEEK TO BE HELD IN HONG KONG.

4. WE INTEND TO MODEL THE TEXT OF THE MOU TO BE AGREED WITH THE CANADIANS ON THE CANADA/JAPAN FILM CO-PRODUCTION AGREEMENT (COPY FOLLOWS BY BAG TO YOU FOR REFERENCE), AND TO CONSULT EXCO EARLY IN 1991. WE SHALL NEED TO INFORM THE CHINESE BEFORE SIGNING AS WE

INTEND THE MOU TO LAST BEYOND 1997.

5. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS.

WILSON

how vec'd

1

PAGE

CONFIDENTIAL

Consulting Legal Adv.

(ins Barrett)

CS

17/12

Charred

ТМ

p.a.

IRD, General (1990).

(5242191

bench you halv

Chased Till barrett. тіле

Ajked Til Barreth where meters stand CS 14/1

CS 201