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Hong Kong and the Common Market Supplementary Brief
Since the last brief was written there have been further
developments on the question of Britain's possible entry into the E.E.C. The Foreign Secretary and the Chancellor of the Duchy of
Lancester have been conducting probings with the Six and a study in
depth has been carried out on the likely consequences if Britain
were to enter the Community on the basis of the Treaty of Rome
and subsequent regulations.
As a result of this the Prime Minister
made his statement in the House of Commons on 10 November when he
announced
(a) that the Heads of Government of E.F.T.A. countries would be
invited to London early in December to consider the next
steps in their approach to the Community and
(b) that he and the Foreign Secretary would visit the capitals
of the Six to ascertain at the highest level whether the
conditions existed
K
or did not exist for fruitful
negotiations for our accession which would meet our
essential interests and those of Commonwealth countries.
The Prime Minister indicated that we would be in touch with
Commonwealth countries at all stages of probing and subsequent
negotiations, if these materialised. The Prime Minister's statement
was telegraphed to Hong Kong on the LPS Service. A copy is attached
to this brief.
2.
Subsequently there was a two day debate in the House of Commons
on this issue on 16 and 17 November. This revealed strong support
for the new initiative from both sides of the House. The statement
has also been well received in EFTA countries and has been welcomed
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