SECRET
-9A-
DSR 11C
cast serious doubt on the legal basis of British
administration in the Territory as a whole.
In order
to preserve confidence we would therefore need at least
a statement by Peking (public or confidential depending
on the nature of our own undertaking on sovereignty)
that the status quo (ie a separate British administration)
would continue. At a point nearer to 1997 we need to find
a legal device to accommodate some exchange of statements on
SECRET
/these
89280 Dd 532113 200M 2/79 SIS
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