TNAG-0099-FCO40-135-Visit-by-Secretary-of-State-1967 — Page 62

Within hours of his arrival in Hongkong yesterday, the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs. Mr Herbert Bowden, visited Chai Wan Resettlement Estate. Here he talks to some of the

younger residents.

SCMP 6-3-67

REASSURANCE BY BOWDEN ON U.K. ENTRY INTO E.E.C.

The interests of the Commonwealth countries would be safeguarded before Britain joined the Common Market, Mr Herbert Bowden, the Secretary of State for Common- wealth Affairs, said yesterday.

Mr Bowden gave this as- surance on arrival at Kai Tak from Singapore by MSA. He is on the last leg of a familiarisation tour of the Fiji Islands, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia and Singa- pore, and will be here for three days.

He said that if Britain de-

for cided to negotiate

entry Market, into the Common members of the Commonwealth would be fully consulted. How- ever, he said, each member individual consi- would need

Hong-

sions at Government House, where he will meet Lieut-Gene- ral Sir John Worsley, Com- mander British Forces, kong; the Hon M. D. I. Gass, the Colonial Secretary; the Hon J. J. Cowperthwaite, the Finan- cial Secretary: the Hon D. R.

the said, Holmes,

for Secretary Chinese Affairs; and Mr T.A.K. Elliott, the political adviser.

deration, because their needs were different..

Britain, Mr Bowden would have to be sure that con- ditions for entry were, "exactly right." One of these conditions He was the economic position. said Britain's economic posi- tion was improving, and the

year budget for this

would balance. There was no doubt that sterling was stronger.

Asked whether Hongkong would have "associate status" if Britain joined the European Economic Community, Mr Bowden replied that the point might be brought up if Britain decided to negotiate.

When he was in Singapore, Mr Bowden was asked about British defence plans for the Far East. News agency reports quoted him as saying that it had not yet been decided what the final number of British troops left in the area would be. It had also not been decided which "east of Suez" bases would be affected by the planned personnel cuts.

Mr Bowden gave his as- surance, according to the news agencies, that the strategic re- serve in Singapore would not be touched.

Shortly after arriving yester- Mr Bowden visited the

day

He will also have discussions with Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils,

Hospital Visit

In the afternoon he will visit the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon, the Technical College, and the Tai Hing Metal and Plastic Ware Factory Ltd in Sanpokong.

A reception will be given in his honour at Government House at 7 pm. Later in the evening he will attend a dinner in the penthouse of the Bank of East Asia, given by Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils.

Mr Bowden is accompanied by Sir Arthur Snelling, Deputy Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs; Mr J. 0. Moreton, Assistant Under- Secretary of State, Far East and Pacific Department, and Mr O. G. Forster, his private secretary. He was met on arrival by the Trench, Governor, Sir David

senior Government

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