Dd. 32855 Ed (4200)
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that, while China was adamant about recovering all her territory in 1997, she was prepared to cooperate in preparing for an orderly transfer of administration and would permit the withdrawal in good order of British troops and expatriates.
Course 4 (c) (ii)
9.
If it became apparent following the opening of negotiations with an amenable Chinese Government that they would prefer to see Hong Kong's colonial status maintained into the 21st century, but would require of us certain concessions these might take
forms: the form of one of the following options:
We might offer to pay for the lease of the N.T
The Government of Hong Kong would probably be willing to pay a considerable sum if it were to mean the continuation of their present status. Such a rent could be nominal
fair or exorbitant.
(a)
(8)
We might agree, having retroceded our territory, to pay a fair, or exorbitant rent for the whole territory which we would continue to administer as a
Colony.
My colleagues will realise that the choice as to the course which we should adopt does not lie
in H.M.G.'s hands. Nevertheless because of the extremely disagreeable prospect if we are unable to reach some agreement with the Chinese on the future of the Colony and because of the extremely distressing circumstances involved for us if we were forced to leave Hong Kong I believe that at the appropriate moment we should be prepared to enter into negotiations with the Chinese Government. Our first objective should be to try for a solution along the lines of course 4 (c) (ii). Only if it became apparent that course 4 (c) (ii) was not negotiable should we try for course 4(c)(i).
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