TNAG-0248-FCO40-284-Effect-of-entry-of-UK-into-EEC-on-exports-from-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 34

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Registry No.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top-Seerat-

Secret.

Confidential,

CONFIDENTIAL

DRAFT NOTE

To:-

Type 1 +

From

Telephone No. & Ext.

Restricted: Unclassified.

PRIVACY MARKING

.In Confidence

Department

Possible Effects on Hong Kong of the entry

of the United Kingdom into the Common Market

J

Political Considerations

The political aspects of this matter may conven-

iently be viewed in the context&f:-

(a) United Kingdom/Hong Kong relations.

(b) Any developments in the internal situation in the

Colony which may come about as a result of the

economic effects on Hong Kong of the United

Kingdom's entry into the Common Market.

As_regards (a) above, Relations between Her

Majesty's Government and the Hong Kong Government have

been at a low ebb for some years. This situation

can generally be attributed to the Colony's unique

position. Although, in economic terms, Hong Kong

is by any standards both mature and highly sophistic-

ated, yet because of its special relationship with

China the Colony's affairs are and must continue

indefinitely to be conducted under a Crown Colony

type of government. The first of these factors

engenders a strong feeling in the Colony that Hong

Kong knows what is best for itself and a resentment

of any outside interference in the Colony's affairs.

But the second factor means that Her Majesty's

and must remain

Government are constitutionally entirely responsible

/constit

for the conduet of Hong Kong's internal and external

affairs.

CONFIDENTIAL

13.