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Monday, February 14, 1972
serve our national interests best, and we will have every incentive to pursue those
policies when we are members of the Community.
"As I see it, in the Common Market, Hong Kong's interests and Britain's
interests are not opposed, but complimentary.
"Now a final word about China. Hong Kong is acutely aware, more acutely
aware than any others about what goes on in China. Hong Kong has an almost
unique talent for playing a role that offers benefit to all and harm to none.
"United Kingdom was the first Government to recognise China, and we
have for long believed that the facts of international life required that she
should take her rightful place in the Security Council of the United Nations and
the General Assembly of that body as well.
Ending Of An Anomaly
"These developments, your Excellency, are not related in any way to the
status of or future of Hong Kong. On the contrary you have every reason to be
thankful for the ending of an anomaly which was a major source of friction and
misunderstanding in the world, and in particular in this area.
"I am glad to say that Sino-British relations have steadily improved
in recent years. We have marked this now for two or three years, it's not something
that has happened just yesterday. Both countries have much to offer each other
in trade and culture and good relations between us must, I believe, be for the
benefit of all.
"Perhaps a final footnote on trade which is your life and we understand
that because as an island people it is ours. It was a great relief that it was
possible to achieve so comparatively quickly the realignment of parities of the
With every week that the confusion of exchange
major international currencies.
/rates
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