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b) as regards sovereignty, the Chinese must understand that abrogation of the 19th Century Treaties would require
approval by Parliament. It would be difficult to justify to public opinion. Therefore this could not be considered
as a separate or prior issue. It must be linked to the
whole question of satisfactory arrangements for the
continuation of suitable British administration in
Hong Kong. Such arrangements must therefore be considered
first. If that discussion produced a reasonable proposal which would inspire confidence in the Territory, there
would be a new situation. In those circumstances it
might be possible to consider the question of sovereignty.
But there must be no prior conditions.
R D Clift
9 September 1982
Hong Kong and General Department
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