TNAG-0099-FCO40-135-Visit-by-Secretary-of-State-1967 — Page 9

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2.

It would be necessary to assess results. If U.I. then made a formal request to enter into negotiations with the E.E.C., the terms on which its entry would be acceptable would become clear. If these seemed negotiable, Commonwealth Governments, including the Hong Kong Government, and E.F.T.A. Governments, would be consulted before any further steps were taken; and Britain would do its best to safeguard the interests of Commonwealth Governments. One advantage, he thought, if U.K. were within the E.E.C., would be that it could speak on behalf of the Commonwealth in the Councils of the Community.

4.

Mr. Ross suggested that Hong Kong was quite different from other members of the Commonwealth. The Secretary of State replied that each Commonwealth country was different in its own way, and the views of each as to their relations with the E.E.C. would differ. H.M.G. would take their views into account. H.M.G. had no obligation to safeguard the interests of non-E.F.T.A. or non--Commonwealth countries.

U.K. Policy towards Hong Kong and the Far East

6.

Mr. Browne referred to the question of confidence pointing out that there was a fear that Britain no longer had the will to maintain her position in the Far East. He added that there was a feeling here that Britain was less than generous in its attitude towards Hong Kong typified, as Mr. Cooke put it, by the feeling prevalent among British exporters that Hong Kong had almost an obligation to give preference to buying British. Hong Kong did in fact buy British despite some of the well-known disadvantages of doing so. On the other hand, Britain apparently displayed little generosity towards Hong Kong, and seemed to go out of its way to help other less well-disposed countries. The Secretary of State said that Britain's purse was not unlimited and there vere a great many countries less well off than Hong Kong. He conceded that there could be advantage for Britain if it got these facts over more clearly in Hong Kong. Mr. Ross mentioned that Kai Tak Airport needed to be extended and financial assistance towards the cost would be appropriate and very well received. The Secretary of State admitted it was a good point and observed that the runway would have to be extended if it were to accommodate the British-built supersonic transport aircraft.

CONFIDENTIAL