TNAG-2966-FCO40-4245-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Consular-representation-of-European-Coun-1993 — Page 64

See G

100

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1531

OF 281045Z SEPTEMBER 93

CONFIDENTIAL

HIND 406/5

RECE

29 SEP 1993

DESK OFFICE

?

INDEX

ри

per.

ISTRY

106272 MDHIAN 6984

COP COPY Q DIST ?

INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP BRUSSELS, PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

186

UKREP BRUSSELS TELNO 1887: COMMISSION OFFICE IN HONG KONG.

1. WE ARE PLEASED TO HEAR FROM HONG KONG DEPARTMENT THAT APPROVAL

HAS BEEN GIVEN BY MINISTERS FOR THE GOVERNOR TO ENTER INTO AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS WITH THE EC PRESIDENT ON THE PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES (P AND IS) ATTACHING TO THE COMMISSION'S OFFICE IN HONG KONG, ONCE AGREEMENT AS BEEN REACHED WITH THE COMMISSION. WE CONFIRM THAT THERE IS NO NEED FOR YOU TO FORMALLY ENTRUST US WITH THE AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS UNTIL THE AGREEMENT WITH THE COMMISSION ON P AND IS HAS BEEN CONCLUDED.

2.

COMMISSION OFFICIALS ARE LIKELY TO VISIT HONG KONG NEXT WEEK TO FINALISE THE AGREEMENT. THEY ARE HOPING THAT IF AGREEMENT COULD BE REACHED IN HONG KONG NEXT WEEK, THE DELEGATION COULD LEAVE WITH THE LETTER SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR. COMMISSIONER VAN DEN BROEK, WHO WILL BE VISITING HONG KONG THE FOLLOWING WEEK TO ATTEND THE EUROPE/EAST ASIA ECONOMIC FORUM ORGANISED BY THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM, COULD THEN BRING BACK PRESIDENT DELORS' REPLY SO AS TO COMPLETE THE EXCHANGE BEFORE THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE COMMISSION OFFICE IN MID-OCTOBER.

3. WE HAVE NOT YET HAD A CHANCE TO DISCUSS IN DETAIL WITH

COMMISSION OFFICIALS THE PRECISE ARRANGEMENTS FOR EFFECTING THE EXCHANGE OF LETTERS. BUT DEPENDING ON FURTHER EXCHANGES WITH THE COMMISSION THIS WEEK AND THE OUTCOME OF LIKELY TALKS WITH THEM NEXT WEEK, WE MAY HAVE TO SEEK YOUR ASSISTANCE URGENTLY NEXT WEEK TO FORMALLY ENTRUST US WITH THE AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO THE EXCHANGE, A DRAFT OF WHICH HAS BEEN PROVIDED UNDER COVER OF MRS IP'S LKETTER TO RICKETTS OF 1 SEPTEMBER. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU SEE ANY DIFFICULTIES AND WHO TO CONTACT IN CASE WE NEED OVERNIGHT APPROVAL FOR ENTRUSTMENT.

PATTEN

YYYY

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