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CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 1402407
CONFIDENTIAL
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*AMENDED COPY* (15 JANUARY)
RISTRY No. 1
17 JAN 1972
PKK 22/5
CONFIDENTIAL
LAST
REF.
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 35 OF 14TH JANUARY 1972.
NEXT
DESKBY 09307/14
REF.
M.L.P.T.
DRAFT SPEECH,
DRAFT SPEECH BY SECRETARY OF STATE IN THE CITY HALL ON 14TH
FEBRUARY.
1.
SINCE VISITS BY BRITISH SECRETARIES OF STATE TO HONG KONG ARE
RARE LET ME EXPLAIN WHY. I AM HERE AND WHAT IS MY RELATIONSHIP TO YOUR AFFAIRS. IN THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IT IS I WHO HAVE THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG, IT IS TO ME THAT YOUR GOVERNOR REPORTS. WHEN AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS HONG KONG COMES TO THE BRITISH CABINET
IT IS I WHO PLEADS YOUR CAUSE.
3. BUT I AM ALSO PRESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE EXTERNAL RELATIONS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. AND I WANT FIRST TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT TWO OF THE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS WHICH I CONSIDER AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT AT THIS TIME, THE ENLARGEMENT OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY AND THE THE SEATING OF CHINA 1 THE U.# BOTH OF THESE ARE OF THE GREATEST SIGNIFICANCE TO HONG KONG.
3. OUR TREATY OF ACCESSION TO THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY HAS JUST BEEN SIGNED, AND WE WILL DE FULL MEMBERS IN UNDER A YEAR. IN THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR ENTRY WE KEPT IN THE CLOSEST TOUCH WITH
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND FOUGHT HARD FOR HONG KONG'S INTERESTS, AND WITH WHAT I HOPE WILL TURN OUT TO BE PRETTY SATISFACTORY RESULTS FCP H.K. I AM SURE THAT 1 THIS RESPECT YOU
HAVE LITTLE TO FEAR FROM THE FUTURE. VE EXPECT THAT WITHI! THE COMMON MARKET THE LEVEL OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN ESITAM WILL EXPAND DRAMATICALLY. THIS WILL BE MUCH TO YOUR ADVANTAGE. SECONDLY, WE HAVE A TRADITION OF LIBERAL TRADING POLICIES AND WILL TAKE THAT TRADITION TO THE COMMUNITY WITH US. YOUR TEXTILE MANUFACTURERS, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULD HAVE FEW PROBLEMS IF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WECE TO IMPORT AS HIGH A PROPORTION OF THEIR
TEXTILES AS DOES THE UNITED KIPODOM,
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CONFIDENTIAL
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