F.
Hong Kong's geographical position, its
preponderantly Chinese population, the artificial nature
of its eccecnie (and political) base - thone factors,
coupled with China's declared clains and intentions,
indicate that the Colony's future must inevitably lie at
some stage within China and that we must give up OUT taito our
position there. We here consider in what cirausstances (short of an abrupt military take-over) this union with
Chine might come «bout; the major problems that would
arise; and the possible modes of our withdrawal,
including an assesment of the prospects for reaching a
negotiated solution,
2. We have noted in Section D that China's long term
aim is the recovery of Hong Kong, but that its immediate
policy is to extend its influence in the Colony in the
hope that eventually it may be possible to impose a
Kacao-type situation. We need to consider whether such
a situation would be acceptable as an alternative to
withdrawal or as a stepping-stone in the process of
withdrawal. Our conclusion is that it would not:
17-19
*j* below.
consider this in more detail in paragraphs.j.
Ciram sieness of withdrewel
3. Te might reach an entirely voluntary decision that
the best course would be to withdraw. This could be
the case in the following situations:-
(a) The emergence in China of a more moderate
"revisionist”, reginez
this, as pointed out
in Section D, is highly unlikely in the near
future.
/ (b) ...