NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
White paper.
BACKGROUND
CONFIDENTIAL
CHINESE POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG
1. The Chinese regard Hong Kong (both the ceded
and leased areas) as Chinese territory, which will
must be
eventually return to China. They a
#
aware that
the Colony cannot be defended for any significant
length of time against a determined Chinese attack or against large Communist-inspired disturbances if
reinforced by substantial military intervention
from China. In any case the Chinese have at
their disposal ample means of making difficulties
for the Hong Kong Government. But for the time
being the Chinese are prepared to accept the
existence of the Colony in its present form, since
it brings them considerable economic and political
advantages.
2.
Chou En-lai told Mr Malcolm MacDonald on
1 November 1971 that "Hong Kong is a place which
will be returned to China, but the Chinese Government
had not raised this and it would not be raised for
a long time. The lease of Kowloon (sic) expires
in 1997". This is the first time a Chinese leader
has categorically linked their attitude to Hong
Kong to the expiry of the New Territories' lease.
We have treated Chou's remarks as confidential but
the Chinese are obviously anxious to reassure
Hong Kong residents publicly about the future.
For example an article in "Newsweek" of 13 December
1971 said:
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CONFIDENTIAL
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