ANNEX 'B'
Confidential
Talking Points for use with Unofficial Members
of the Legislative and Executive Councils and
to the Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Industries
and Chinese Manufacturers' Association.
The following paragraph should be substituted for paragraph 8
in the talking points for use with the public:-
8.
The Commonwealth problems are, of course, known to you.
We, for our part, appreciate the importance you attach to your
exports to Britain and, in particular, to your exports of cotton
textiles. Problems would arise (such as the future of
Commonwealth preferences) which would clearly affect your trade
with us and would accordingly need the most careful consideration.
If and when we decide to enter into negotiations it will be
necessary to prepare our negotiating position carefully and this
will of course be one of the first points for consultation between
While we stand prepared to press for the best possible terms
for Hong Kong, it must be remembered that the results of the
1961-63 negotiations are there for all to see and we should not
delude ourselves as to the prospects of achieving a better end
result in any second round of negotiation. The barrier of the
Common External Tariff and the question mark which hangs over
the Community's future common commercial policy will clearly
present many difficulties. These are matters to which your
Government will no doubt be paying close attention.
us.