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instruments of Britain's accession, but we pointed out that
any such document would in practice have to be agreed with
the Six, who would probably view it with suspicion. It
might prove to have many of the disadvantages, and none of
the advantages, of a request for special treatment for
Hong Kong. We did however agree to consider an alternative
put forward by the Hong Kong Government - that such a
declaration should be made in the form of a Parliamentary
statement at the time of Britain's accession.
Negotiating Objective
15. If no other special arrangements are made for Hong Kong,
we shall have to apply the Community's common tariff to her
exports to Britain according to whatever transitional
arrangements are agreed for the application of this tariff
to exports from the Commonwealth generally (see Negotiating
Brief on Transitional Periods). The effects of this on
But so far as we can
Hong Kong would be unfavourable.
judge, and provided there is an adequate period for adaption,
they should not be such as to place Hong Kong's vital
interests in jeopardy. And in view of the Community's
known attitude to Hong Kong, it is barely conceivable that
we could negotiate more favourable arrangements. Indeed,
the likelihood is that the Community will ask us to impose
more onerous restrictions on our imports from Hong Kong.
Our aim therefore should be to seek no more for Hong Kong
than an adequate transitional period for the application of
the common tariff, but to resist any attempt to impose more
unfavourable treatment on Hong Kong.
Tactics
16. If we do not wish to seek any special arrangement for
Hong Kong, the best tactic would be not to mention Hong Kong
at all, but to leave the Six to do so if they wish, and thus
put themselves in the position of 'demandeurs'. If the
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