TNAG-0045-FCO40-81-Britain-s-entry-into-EEC-effect-on-trade-with-Hong-Kong-1967 — Page 145

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7. It is too early to give any indication of the outcome.

This will not be possible until the whole series of visits

is over and the position has been carefully reviewed in London.

8. The Commonwealth problems are, of course, well known to

you all.

די

For Fiji, they are mainly in connection with sugar see

Part I speaking notes.

New Zealand is a special case given her dependence on the

British market. Her unique position requires an

exceptional solution. This is generally recognised by

the Six

For Australia, they are mainly, but not exclusively,

agricultural.7

For Hong Kong, cotton textiles are of particular importance

see Country brief Part III7

9 In his statement on 10 November, the Prime Minister said:

Commonwealth Governments

have been informed

and we shall maintain the closest degree of

consultation with them throughout.

}

We are, and shall remain, in close touch with other Commonwealth

Governments.

10. There are two main economic reasons why Britain wishes

to join the Community provided the terms are right.

Firstly,

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the prosperity of Britain is to be assured, British indus try

must be able to expand. For this, we must have a large and

dynamic market outside Britain a market to which we have

immediate and unrestricted access. An expanded Community

which included Britain, the other E.F.T.4. members and the

Irish Republic would be a market of nearly 300 million people.

What is more, it would be a very prosperous market. Secondly,

we are anxious to bring to an end the present division of

/Western