EN CLAIR
FROM HONG KONG
UNCLASSIFIED [FRAME]
TO ROUTINE FCO TELNO. BIS 1 OF 14 FEBRUARY 1972.
BIS/1/72 SPEECH ONE PARA FOREIGN SECRETARY SIR ALEC
DOUGLAS HYPHEN HOME EXPRESSED HOPE TODAY THAT OVER THE
YEARS BRITAINS ASSOCIATION WITH EUROPEAN ECONOMIC
COMMUNITY WOULD BRING REWARDING PRIZES TO HONGKONG PARA
SPEAKING AT OFFICIAL LUNCHEON IN MANDARIN HOTEL SIR ALEC
POINTED OUT THAT COMMON MARKET
WAS LARGEST TRADING GROUP IN WORLD PARA FOREIGN
SECRETARY SPOKE ABOUT TWO OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
WHICH HE CONSIDERED AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT AT PRESENT
TIME PARA THIS WAS ENLARGEMENT OF EUROPEAN ECONOMIC
COMMUNITY AND SEATING OF CHINA IN UNINATIONS STOP BOTH
OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS HE SAID WERE OF PROFOUND SIGNIFICANCE
TO HONGKONG PARA BRITAIN WOULD BECOME AYE FULL MEMBER
OF COMMON MARKET IN UNDER AYE YEAR STOP IN NEGOTIATIONS
FOR ENTRY BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAD KEP IN THE QUOTE
CLOSEST TOUCH UNQUOTES WITH HONGKONG GOVERNMENT AND FOUGHT
HARD FOR HONGKONGS INTERESTS PARA HE TOLD HIS LISTENERS
IN PUBLIC SPEECH BROADCAST AND
TELEVISED BY COLONYS RADIO AND TELEVISION NETWORKS THAT
AYE BRITAIN IN DECLINE COULD NOT REPEAT NOT BE OF USE TO
HONGKONG PARA AYE BRITAIN WITH ASSURANCE OF EXPANDING
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY WOULD BE MUCH TO HONGKONGS ADVANTAGE
PARA FOREIGN SECRETARY SAID LIBERAL TRADING POLICIES
GENERALLY SERVED BRITISH NATIONAL INTERESTS BEST AND
/BRITAIN
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