TNAG-1984-FCO40-2817-Presentation-of-UK-policy-on-Hong-Kong-to-the-media-1989 — Page 98

gmatic, attainable and actively beneficial step for the Twelve.

The breaking down of barriers which 1992 represents is perhaps the best current example of how pragmatism and a commitment to freedom combine to create the best in policy. It is self-evidently sensible

to create a Single Market of 320 million consumers, the largest in

the world. In the process, we will be spreading to Europe the principles which we have tested (and found effective) in the UK over the last ten years: de-regulation, liberalisation, opening up of the

market. The theme is one of freedom. A freedom from which all Europe's citizens will benefit.

13. This Government's desire to press on with the practicalities of improving our people's lot has sometimes led people to believe that we are, in some sense, less "politically" committed to Europe than

some of our partners. On the contrary, working to improve the

Community and achieving results are the best measure of any state's

political commitment. In this respect we are second to none. This

is as true in Political Cooperation as it is in other areas of

cooperation. One can not but be struck by the way in which the Twelve now naturally expect to move together and support each other on a range of international issues. The way in which we all look to the Presidency of the day to represent the whole Community would

have been unimaginable some years ago. We welcome this.

14.

To look at the recent past, one of the most striking pieces of

forceful joint European action was the heartening response by all partners to the monstrous death threat issued by Iran against the British author, Salman Rushdie. Despite the considerable interests

which many partners have at stake in Iran, the Community moved as one against the Iranians' unacceptable behaviour: a clear signal of the importance we all attach to the basic freedoms of our society.

15. Another area where the Community moves as one is naturally in

GATT, renegotiating in the Uruguay Round. In the intricacies of such negotiations as these there is always the possibility of common sense being obscured. It makes sense to maintain a position on a world-wide scale which is in tune with our prevailing themes of free

and open markets internally. This is inevitably going to be a difficult process. The UK has always been, and remains, firmly