RESTRICTED
A
A
MUST BOTH MAKE A CONSTANT EFFORT TO AVOID THESE OCASSIONS : AND WHEN THEY ARISE TO END THEM, THROUGH AMICABLE CONTACT AND
DISCUSSION.
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.
I HAVE ONLY TO LOOK AROUND ME TO SEE THAT IT HAS WORKED OUT WELL.
OUR PRINCIPAL POLITICAL CONCERN IS THAT SOCIAL PROGRESS SHOULD
MATCH YOUR ECONOMIC GROWTH. THIS, I KNOW, IS YOUR GOVERNMENT'S
OBJECTIVE AND IT ALREADY HAS MANY ACHIEVEMENTS TO ITS CREDIT IN THIS
FIELD. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO POINT OUT TO ME THAT IT IS ONLY
UPON STEADY GROWTH IN THE ECONOMY THAT SOCIAL PROGRESS CAN BE
FAIRLY BASED.
IN THAT SETTING I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT TWO OF THE
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS WHICH I CONSIDER AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT
AT THIS TIME, THE ENLARGEMENT OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY
AND THE SEATING OF CHINA IN THE UNITED NATIONS. BOTH OF THESE
ARE OF PROFOUND SIGNIFICANCE TO HONG KONG.
WE IN BRITAIN WILL BE FULL MEMBERS IN UNDER A YEAR.
IN THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR ENTRY WE KEPT IN THE CLOSEST TOUCH WITH
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND FOUGHT HARD FOR HONG KONG'S INTERESTS. I HOPE THAT OVER THE YEARS ASSOCIATION WITH THIS THE LARGEST
TRADING GROUP IN THE WORLD WILL BRING REWARDING PRIZES TO HONG
KONG . A BRITAIN IN DECLINE COULD BE NO USE TO YOU : A BRITAIN
WITH THE ASSURANCE OF EXPANDING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY WILL BE MUCH
TO YOUR ADVANTAGE. SECONDLY LIBERAL TRADING POLICIES GENERALLY SERVE OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS BEST, AND WE WILL HAVE EVERY INCENTIVE TO PURSUE THOSE POLICIES WHEN WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY,
AS I SEE IT, IN THE COMMON MARKET HONG KONG'S INTERESTS AND BRITAIN'S ARE NOT OPPOSED, BUT COMPLIMENTARY.
NOW A WORD ABOUT CHINA. HONG KONG IS ACUTELY AWARE OF
WHAT GOES ON IN CHINA, HONG KOMG HAS AN ALMOST UNIQUE TALENT FOR
PLAYING A ROLE THAT OFFERS BENEFIT TO ALL AND HARM TO NONE.
THE UNITED KINGDOM WAS THE FIRST WESTERN GOVERNMENT TO RECOGNISE CHINA, AND WE HAVE FOR LONG BELEIVED THAT THE FACTS OF INTERNATIONAL LIFE REQUIRED THAT SHE SHOULD TAKE HER RIGHTFUL PLACE IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE NOT RELATED IN ANY WAY TO THE
STATUS OR FUTURE OF HONG KONG. ON THE CONTRARY YOU HAVE EVERY
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/REASON