SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST 9th January, 1970;
Tory leader withholds
commitment
Mr
on
Heath alighting from ' aircraft arrival at Kai Tak yes- terday.
on future of HK
The leader of the Conservative Party in Britain, Mr Edward Heath, said last night he could not commit himself on any aspects of what Hongkong's future would be like with the Conservatives in power "until I have form- ed my own judgment about it."
He was speaking to reporters at a press conference at Kai Tak airport shortly after his arrival from Singapore for a three-day stay on the last leg of his Far Eastern tour. It was his first official visit to Hongkong.
Mr Heath emphasised
his party's interest in PARTY'S POLICY IN
Hongkong. The fact that he had come here himself showed it, he said. A number of Conservative MPs were continually coming to the Colony and reporting to him on their return.
During his stay, Mr Heath said, he would meet and dis- cuss problems with a wide range of people.
"There is no limit to aspects of my discussions here," he said.
the
SOUTHEAST ASIA
going to be the size it has stability in both trade and in- been and the cost is not going to be as great.
dustry.
"I want to see Britain's trade increasing and I don't ask for special privileges.
Mr Heath said the Govern- ments of both Singapore and Malaysia wanted the British "We should compete and be to stay. "They've always accepted on our merits and made this plain," he said. it is up to us to show we can "And the Australian and produce things people want New Zealand Governments at the prices they want bet- have long ago announced they ter than our competing coun- will retain forces there after tries." 1971 in accordance with the
Heath sald wishes of the Singapore and what is going to be a greatly Singapore as the centre of Malaysian Governments.
Mr
he saw
He spoke at length on his party's "quite simple and clear plan" for a five-power co-operative defence effort in Singapore and Malaysia.
"The latest date for a gen- eral election in Britain is May 7, 1971," he said, "so there is "All our interests are the developing and increasingly no question of British forces same so isn't it sensible that prosperous area, with at least having withdrawn and then we should work together?" he 200 million people benefit- coming back again with a said. change of government.
"Our proposals are quite Trading nation
specific-that we become
"We
part of a five-power Com- Mr Heath said Britain was monwealth force involving a great trading nation. Malaysia, Singapore, New can only live by trade. We Zealand, Australia and Bri- have no other way of living." tain-based in Singapore and He said if stability went in Malaysia for the defence of a this region, so would trade specific part of the world.
and industrial investment.
"The cost of doing this is a modest insurance premium for the area and one which we can afford," he said.
"Obviously the force is not
He said many people in the United Kingdom were aware of the investment potential in Southeast Asia, "and I hope more will recognise the op- portunities.
"But one must appreciate that at the moment, there are limitations on what firms can do with capital investment anywhere outside Britain.
ing."
Mr Heath said he was very glad that this time he could "At in" Hongkong on his schedule.
HK and EEC
He was invited here by Hongkong representatives in 1962 when he led Britain's delegation to Common Market talks.
He said that as far as he could see, the difficulties Hongkong faced then Britain's entry had been successful were much the same as they were now.
He will be discussing Hong- kong's future trade interests in considerable detail here.
Asked what he thought of "Our job is to create econo-
the Conservative Party's mic policies which will enable
chances of winning next Britain to have the strength year's election, he said: "I to resume her previous role the chances are pretty good. think most observers think of economic investment," Mr Heath said.
agree with them,"
He said he saw Britain's Mr Heath will give another role in this area after 1971 press conference before leav- "as working with our friends ing Hongkong on Sunday. and allies here to ensure
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.