CONFIDENTIAL
MX126/548/1
Mr Kuningas,
7.9.20
715
Mr. Brind
Mr. Stathan
Assurances to Hong Kong
Mr. Adams asked me, in the context of Mr. Rippon's visit to Hong Kong, to look into the question of what, if any, assurances were given to Hong Kong by HMG during the 1961-63 negotiations.
2. It does not appear, from a hasty study of the papers, that assurances were given about any specific commodities, or about specific arrangements to safe- guard Hong Kong interests.
3.
More general commitments were formulated and/or communicated on the following lines:-
(1) During his visit to Hong Kong, in December 1961, Sir W. Gorell Barnes assured Hong Kong representatives that the negotiating delegation "was aware of Hong Kong's problem and would do their best, in very difficult circumstances, to make arrangements which will safeguard her vital interests".
(11) A brief on Hong Kong CMN (0) (62) 67 (Revise)7 prepared by the Colonial Office, asserted as a general principle that "It would, therefore, not be possible to justify arrangements for Britain joining the EEC which demonstrably reduced Hong Kong's overall opportunities for trade with Britain and the Six combined". There are no indications on the papers which I have seen that any such general principle was ever communicated to the Hong Kong Government.
(111) When the Lord Privy Seal met unofficial members of the Executive and Legislative Councils of the Hong Kong Government in London in October 1962, he agreed that he might be quoted as having said that ". we understand the problem of Hong Kong_7 very well and will do our utmost to safeguard her essential interests in the Brussels negotiations".
•
(iv) Mr. Heath repeated these assurances in a letter to Lieutenant Commander Maydon M.P., dated 2 November, 1962.
-1--