Mr Donald
FUTURE OF HONG KONG:
1.
SECRET
Hkk ouott
RECEIVED I REGISTRY NO. 51
12 MAY 1981
DESK OFFICER
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
WONTINGENCY
CY PROPOSALS
I have seen the draftlnotes
my/12r
Enter Mr w
for cunt
2
12/5.
109
π
NOTED
√031
this/subject which
you submitted to Sir E Youde on 6 May.j I note that the
'15 years notice' concept is attracting a good deal of support as a desirable objective. I am not so sure. Chinese agreement to give 15 (or 20) years notice of their intention to terminate British administration would certainly help to maintain confidence so long as the undertaking was reiterated from time to time and notice was not actually given. But if the Chinese did actually give notice the effect on confidence might be immediate and severe, notwithstanding the grace period.
Would any British government want to be committed to remaining in Hong Kong for another 15 years in such circumstances ? It is surely unrealistic to think in terms of such a long transitional period.
2.
I am also doubtful whether the Chinese would ever agree to tie the hands of future Chinese governments in this way.
I think myself that the most we might get is some kind of undertaking from the Chinese (in return for concessions on sovereignty etc) that British administration would be permitted to continue for so long as it suited the interest of the Chinese people (or some such phraseology), 1997 notwithstanding.
Kulungen
R JT McLaren
Far Eastern Department
11 May 1981
copied to: Mr Morrice, HKGD
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