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6.
i)
j)
within UK competence and Chinese aircraft would
have no special rights;
grant of leases of public land: this topic might
be
clarified so that the UK was not unduly
restricted over the terms it could grant;
duration and termination of the arrangements:
an appropriate formula would have to be included
in the agreement.
B
The list of matters in the previous paragraph is not
exhaustive and of course there may be matters (whether
mentioned in the list or not) in respect of which the
Chinese might reasonably ask for special treatment.
7. A political declaration as in paragraph 3 would raise
fewer complications than a formal cession of territory.
However, if the Chinese would agree to the continuance of
the existing British regime more or less intact after
cession of the territory the legal arrangements should
not present much difficulty.
8.
Although one might expect the agreement between the
UK and China to be a formal and detailed one in view of
its importance, an informal agreement in broad terms,
avoiding legalistic terms, might suit both parties better.
The Chinese negotiators may not think like Western jurists
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