TNAG-2965-FCO40-4244-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Consular-representation-of-European-Coun-1993 — Page 32

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MDHIAN (8877

PRAGMATIC AND FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS, BY FOCUSSING ON THE LIST OF PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES AND FINDING APPROPRIATE WORDING FOR THE DIFFICULT POINTS. WITTEBROOD SAID THAT THE DELORS LETTER PROVIDED THE BASIS FOR THIS. WE THOUGHT THE COMMISSION'S LIST WOULD NOT

PROVE ACCEPTABLE AS IT STOOD.

5.

WITH THE OCTOBER TARGET DATE IN MIND, WITTEBROOD HOPED THAT THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES COULD SEND A TEAM WITH THE AUTHORITY TO DISCUSS THE LIST IN A FLEXIBLE WAY WITH THE COMMISSION BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH (AUGUST IS A DEAD PERIOD). WE AGREED THAT THIS WOULD BE DESIRABLE AND UNDERTOOK TO SEE IF IT WAS POSSIBLE. BRUSER IS ALSO IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICE HERE (MS AMY TSE) BUT HAD NOT YET HAD ANY REACTION FROM THEM TO THE DELORS LETTER.

6.

COMMENT. IT IS ENCOURAGING THAT THE COMMISSION ARE PUTTING THEMSELVES UNDER TIME PRESSURE: AND THAT THEY SEEM DISPOSED TO FIND WAYS AROUND THEIR CLAWYER-INSPIRED) DIFFICULTIES OF PRINCIPLE BY CONCENTRATING ON THE LIST OF PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES (THOUGH THIS TOO PRESENTS PROBLEMS). NOW THAT THEY HAVE AGREED INTERNALLY A COMMISSION POSITION THROUGH THE DELORS LETTER, A HONG KONG RESPONSE THIS MONTH WOULD KEEP UP THE MOMENTUM. A NEGOTIATION ACROSS A TABLE WOULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN A FURTHER EXCHANGE OF LETTERS, AND IT WOULD BE EASIER TO AGREE DATES IF THIS COULD TAKE PLACE IN BRUSSELS. THE BRITTAN CABINET'S ADVICE, WITH WHICH WE AGREE, IS TO REACH AN ACCOMMODATION ON THE LIST OF PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES, AND FIND UNCONSTRAINING WORDING ON THE QUESTIONS OF CAP 190 AND THE OFFICE'S POST-1997 STATUS.

7 =

THE FRONT-RUNNER FOR THE HEAD OF THE OFFICE IS ETIENNE REUTER, A LUXEMBOURGER WITH BRITISH CONNECTIONS. HE WAS MOST RECENTLY CHEF DE CABINET TO THE LUXEMBOURG COMMISSIONER AND SERVED EARLIER IN A BRITISH CABINET.

KERR

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