Mr Wilford
Sir S Tomlinson
Mr Logan
THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG
Mrs Heat th
Mu Lars should see
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on v2 lun
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1.
Peking telegram No 1076 reports that Chou En-lai
told Mr Malcolm MacDonald that
1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.51 -2 NOV 1971
NICK 4/4
2.
"China had no intention of seeking to get Hong Kong
back until the expiry of the New Territories Lease."
This is the first such categorical statement by any
Chinese leader that their attitude to the future of Hong
Kong is linked to the Lease.
3. While theoretically it could be argued that this would
leave it open to the Chinese to prolong the Lease, in my view
it is more probable that the Chinese would feel themselves
obliged to take possession of the Colony. This is, of course,
on the assumption that the Chinese leadership at that time
had the same basic policy as at present.
19 October 1971
Copies to:
Private Secretary
Mr Daunt
Sir L Mons on
Hong Kong Dept
Sir M MacLehose
CONFIDENTIAL
J AL Morgan
Far
Eastern Department
Mr Morgan has awanged Hi
متنا
for the attached
the attached two tals. To be repeated
to Hong Kong.
ANG
20.10.71.
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