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and may not attach much importance to the position of the
territory under international law or in UK law so long as
their political attitudes are respected and their presenta-
tional objectives can be attained. Broad treatment would
make it possible to avoid enumerating every particular matter
that remained within UK competence. Tentative drafts of
possible broad formulations are attached as Annexes A and B.
9. Any agreement should preserve the exclusive right of
the UK to make laws for the territory on all matters. An
Act of Parliament divesting the UK of sovereignty would need
to declare that all existing laws would continue to apply in
relation to the territory as if there had been no change of
status except in so far as they were specifically modified
by the Act or subsequently amended or revoked.
10. Any agreement would be registered at the UN in the
usual way.
It might be desirable to lodge with the UN a
specific declaration drawing attention to the UKS continuing
exclusive responsibility for external affairs and stating
that the UK's rights and obligations under existing treaties
would not be affected by the change of status.
1.1. It might be helpful if the FCO could obtain some advice
on the conceptual notions of the Chinese ministers and
officials, which will not necessarily tally with those of the
UK Government or the Hong Kong Government. One needs to
know how such matters as territorial sovereignty, responsibility
for external relations, legislative authority, cession of
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/territory