Te viser office"?
Mr Morrice
SECRET
Reference HKK.40
онот
AKKOHoll
24 MAR 20
DESK OFFICER INDEX
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: NEW TERRITORIES LEASES
1.
13
du zazd
F
RESTRY
Action Takun
Mr Rushford's minute below. I think we will need rather more detailed consideration of some of the legal points. Although Mr Rushford says that Hong Kong have the right to issue 25 year leases this point is not fully agreed between legal authorities. We need to look up the papers and probably to re-present the question.
2. On the other questions, which are pretty vague, I see the only way forward as putting a number of hypothetical situations to the Legal Adviser - eg on the Chinese Commissioner in Hong Kong we would have to consider the implications if he were:
3.
a) the equivalent of a consular official;
b) given rather more extensive powers of negotiation between
Hong Kong and China - ie something of an ambassador;
c) given a say of some sort in Hong Kong internal affairs.
Ch. view
Please ask Mr Webb to examine this question next week when Hong Kong Section is back to strength.
CODE 18-77
SS 8/78.
Д
19 March 1980
R D Clift
SECRET