TNAG-2965-FCO40-4244-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Consular-representation-of-European-Coun-1993 — Page 99

16-MAR-1993 10:38

UKREP EC BRUSSELS

CONFIDENTIAL

15 March 1993

By Fax

Dr E Jones-Parry CMG

ECD (E) FCO

HKD 406/5

RI

22 MAR 1993

INDO

Dear

Emryst

32 2 287 8310

P.02

36

United Kingdom

Permanent Representation To the European Communities

Rond-Point Robert Schuman 6

1040 Brussels

Telephone: (02) 287 82 11

Telex: 24312

Facsimile: (02) 287 83 98

DID: (02)287 8248

EC DELEGATION OFFICE IN HONG KONG

1.

I should let you know where matters now stand on this dossier in the light of the instructions in FCO telno 59 to UKRep and the further comments in Hong Kong telno 319. I am sorry that this letter was delayed by the FAC and my absence on sick leave last week.

2.

I spoke to Simon Nuttall on 4 March to confirm that we looked forward to seeing his informal note on the Commission's requirements for privileges and immunities. He regretted that it was proving difficult to get this written because of various objections from Commission legal advisers. I stressed that the usefulness of such a note, as I saw it, was an explanation by the Commission in practical rather than legal terms of what they needed and why. This could then serve as a basis for a discussion with the Hong Kong, and if necessary UK, authorities aimed at solving the problems. Nuttall agreed this approach and undertook to persevere. But the note has not yet materialised.

3. Sir J Kerr was attracted by my idea of convening a meeting in London between the Commission, Hong Kong representatives and UK officials aimed at thrashing out a solution, and he floated it on 1 March with Patrick Williamson (head of the Hong Kong office here in Brussels). Williamson wanted to keep this in reserve for the time being, preferring to have another go himself at finding a solution with Nuttall on the basis of fresh instructions from Hong Kong (eg on the scope of the possible informal assurances suggested in paragraph 6 of Hong

of Hong Kong telno 312 about the inviolability of the bag). Williamson and

Williamson and his First Secretary John Clarke promised to go over the ground in detail with me before going back to Nuttall. We hope to do this very shortly. The Williamson/Clarke analysis of the negotiating problems is virtually identical to mine (as set out in UKRep telno 267), and

(24)

CONFIDENTIAL