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8.
Finally so long as the prosperity of Hong Kong remains as it is today I doubt whether a subversive movement originating in China could succeed unless the Government of that country were prepared openly to back it and to mass troops on the frontier ready to support the compatriots in Hong Kong. The ordinary population, as was shown in 1967, are too interested in a quiet life and in earning their living to support a change of ownership - unless they see it as inevitable. The paper K(69)1 seems to me to rate the chances of this more highly than I do.
9. Even if I am too optimistic in what I have said about agreement on the prolongation of a lease I believe that a Chinese Government keen to build up its own economy and take over Hong Kong as a going concern may be more cooperative than K(69)1 suggests. For this reason I think it should consider possible transition procedures, including Chinese participation in Government or possibly a neutral Chairman assisted by British and Chinese Vice-chairmen which at present it excludes as being unworkable. Whether the U.N. would have a role to play would depend upon whether China has entered that organisation.
Kim Wilfor
4.M. Wilfora)
14 October, 1969.
Copies to:
Mr. Murray, Far Eastern Department Mr. Carter, Hong Kong Department Mr. Cradock, Planning Staff
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