TNAG-0045-FCO40-81-Britain-s-entry-into-EEC-effect-on-trade-with-Hong-Kong-1967 — Page 165

CONFIDENTIAL

BRIEF NO. G.1

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY

PART III

BACKGROUND NOTES

SINGAPORE

The most important elements in Singapore's economy are

the maintenance and provision of supplies to the British

base and her entrepot trade with neighbouring countries.

Neither of these would be affected by British entry into

the Community. Singapore also has a small but growing

manufacturing industry, which includes cotton textiles.

effect on this would be the same as that on the similar

but much more important industries of Hong Kong. (See

paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Annex on Hong Kong).

Overall,

the effect on the economy of Singapore would probably not

be very great, though conditions for industrial expansion

might be made somewhat less favourable.

2.

30

Singapore in the 1961-63 Negotiations:

See paragraph 3 of Annex on Malaysia.

The

Reactions in Singapore to the Government's recent approach

to the E.E.C.: There is no general public interest in the

subject.

Ministers in Singapore are more concerned about the

political than the economic implications. They fear that

closer ties between Britain and Europe might mean that Britain

will disengage from East of Suez. They also hope that

Singapore could, by some sort of special relationship with an

enlarged Community, obtain improved access for exports of

manufactured goods,

CONFIDENTIAL

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