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CONFIDENTIAL
Document No. 4
RECORD OF A PRESS CONFERENCE GIVEN BY THE RIGHT HON. GEOFFREY RIPPON, QC, MP, CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY
· OF LANCASTER, ON ARRIVAL IN HONG KONG
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster met the Press on arrival and answered questions from radio and television stations. He said he hoped problems for Hong Kong of United Kingdom entry to the EEC would not be too alarming and that arrangements would be made to safeguard the position during the transitional period. Asked about the effect on Hong Kong he pointed out that the colony had one of the most remarkably sound economies in the world. Of arrangements which might be made for Hong Kong, Mr. Rippon said he would not rule out association but it was not the form but the reality which was important. He said: "In or out of the Common Market no one can give any guarantee as to what will happen in world trade ".
2. To a direct question as to whether Hong Kong's position would be protected, Mr. Rippon replied: "We have Hong Kong's position very much in mind "
3. Mr. Rippon emphasised that he was not too worried in the long term and felt that the thing to hope for was a general expansion of Hong Kong trade which would result from the expansion of trade in the expanded Community. He said: In the short term we must study to see that there is a minimum of disruption ".
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Document No. 5
RECORD OF A CONVERSATION HELD AT THE COLONIAL
SECRETARIAT, HONG KONG,
KONG, ON 12 SEPTEMBER, 1970, BETWEEN THE RIGHT HON. GEOFFREY RIPPON, QC, MP, CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER, AND THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR JOHN COWPERTHWAITE, AND THE DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, Mr. D. H. JORDAN
Present:
The Right Hon. Geoffrey Rippon, QC,
M P Mr. Tickell
Sir John Cowperthwaite
Mr. D. H. Jordan
Mr. J. Cater
Mr. C. P. Haddon-Cave
Mr. D. T. K. Wong
Mr. W. Dorward
Mr. L. W. R. Mills
Mr. J. S. Warren
The Financial Secretary opened the meeting by thanking Mr. Rippon for coming and asked him to take the chair. Mr. Rippon replied that he was glad to have the opportunity to visit Hong Kong and hear the views of people on the spot which he felt was of much greater value and brought the real points home much more effectively than by studying a very bulky file in Whitehall.
CONFIDENTIAL