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Monday, February 14, 1972
"We pay you the compliment of believing you are well able to manage your
own affairs within the limitations of your constitutional position.
This has
always been the tradition and I have only to look around me in Hong Kong to see
that it has worked out well. Our principal concern is that social progress should
match your economic growth. This, I know, is your Government's objective and
You in turn
it has already many achievements to its credit in this field.
have the right to point out to me and it has been gently done already that it
is only upon steady growth in the economy that social progress can be fairly
That we in Britain accept.
based.
"In that setting I want to speak to you very shortly about two of the
international developments which I consider to be momentous in this generation.
First of all, the enlargement of the European Economic Community and secondly,
the seating of China in the United Nations. Both of these are of profound
significance to Hong Kong and indeed to all of us everywhere in the world.
Hong Kong's Interests
"Talking of the European Economic Community, we in Britain will be full
members in under a year from now. In the negotiations for entry we kept in the
closest touch with the Hong Kong Government and fought hard for Hong Kong's
interests. And when we are members of the community, full members, we will do
the same I hope that over the years association with this, the largest trading
group in the world, at present it conducts 41 per cent of the total trade of
the world, will bring rewarding prizes to Hong Kong. A faltering Britain, a Britain
gradually declining in the world's tables of statistics in trade and influence can
be no use to you in Hong Kong. A Britain with the assurance of expanding economic
activity and the confidence which grows from that, is quite a different thing and
will be much to your advantage. Then again, liberal trading policies generally
/serve