THE president of Britain's Liberal Democrats, Charles Kennedy, said a more accountable European Commission will help to keep the community's door open to increasing trade.
Mr Kennedy, who is visiting the territory as a guest of the Hong Kong Government, said there is a 'really worrying' threat that the community would become an exclusive trade block.
But he believed the investment opportunities in the region and the accelerating momentum to make the commission's decision-making processes more accountable will help to sustain trade levels.
Mr Kennedy also endorsed the territory's support for China re-admission to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade but would not comment on whether it should be conditional on the mainland accepting developed-country status.
He believes the community must introduce a single currency to fully exploit its trading potential.
Last week, Victor Fung Kowk-king, chairman of the Trade Development Council, told a meeting of leading European industrialists, that European companies have consistently failed to fully exploit the commercial advantages of investing in China and the region.