TNAG-0139-FCO40-175-Effect-of-EEC-common-commercial-policy-on-Hong-Kong-exports-1969 — Page 7

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REGISTRY No.51

HKIL 6/24

Reference....

19

9)

Mr. Keith (Information Policy Department, G 67A/3)

Hong Kong and the Common Market

In answering any questions from the press in Hong Kong Rounthwaite should be guided by the general formula "this can only be clarified by discussion and negotiation with the EEC ...". Indeed it is difficult to be more explicit than this. Regarding the first

question the answer must be a combination of this formula, and of Mr. Brown's quotation, placing emphasis on the last sentence that Association is not an all or nothing situation. Perhaps our suggested answer could read:

2.

This is a matter which cannot be pre- judged and will depend on the outcome of HMG's negotiations with the EEC. Mr. Brown summed up the position in a speech to the WEU Council in July 1967.

Flag D I must emphasise that Association or non-Association will not be the question at issue but rather it would be a question of the degree of Association.

Question 2 is adequately covered by the quotation you have unearthed from Mr. Wilson's speech of 8 May, 1967. Question 3 is more difficult. Apart from Lord Chalfont's statement there are some relevant extracts to be taken from Mr. Crosland's speech to the House of Commons on 22 July, in which he announced the Board of Trade's proposal to introduce a tariff on cotton textile imports. On that occasion he said "these decisions would of course be subject to any modifica- tions that might be required if we joined the EEC" and "

this decision will not create a precedent for further departures from our traditional policy on Commonwealth trade in advance of any general change of system which might be required by our entry into the EEC". I am attaching a copy of Crosland's complete speech, which you may wish to send to Rounthwaite, although I would hope that he has already received a copy.

lain Haway

سنوا

(I. R. Murray) Hong Kong Department 12 September, 1969

271

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12/9/09