8
The nub of the problem is that the two parties to the Convention of
Peking 18y3, Britain and China, have opposing views as the validity of the treaty,
both sides kays exhibit a certain reticence to discuss the implications and yet
unless some solution is found quite soon, the contimed existence of the colony of
Hong kong in its present form (the third, unmentioned party to the above) is highly unakely
to survive the early 1980's. Let us examine the attitude of each party
in turn.
Britain's position on the constitutional aspect is circumscribed by
otherwise the legality
the necessity to affirm the validity of the original treaty
of its present rule in Hong Kong would simply disappear. Any and all actions by the
Governor, the courts, the police or army would be invalid; to take one simple
illustration, should the British side admit that any of the original treatjes
were invalid for any reason (and we will come to China's position in a minute) no commercial contract between c.commoThis.logdat.nfo thigh twerkha tilaus fem smpany paired they arni buren tree-
a HE
HK company & anywhere else would
Britam is
be enforceable, the logic of this is that as far as
met all of these fights under the Treaty and are equally bound to accept all of
it is
Concerned they come bound to assert
is