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Interests of the People of Hong Kong
12. Any resolution of the whole question will have to take
account of the interests and well-being of the population of the
territory, as well as the interests of the United Kingdom. Given
the choice the people of Hong Kong would no doubt wish the status
quo to be maintained. But they accept that the expiry of the
lease on the New Territories will make new arrangements necessary.
Moreover they do not necessarily consider British sovereignty as
essential to their future prosperity and security. They still
regard themselves as Chinese but do not wish to live under a
communist system. A majority of them are either immigrants from
China, many of them recently arrived, or the children of immigrants.
Most have no emotional ties with the UK.
emergence of a local Hong Kong identity.
There are signs of the
But all value the
The
freedom of life under British administration and the standard of
living that they have secured under it. The British connection
is important as an insurance against control by Peking.
great majority would thus almost certainly welcome an assurance
by which continuing British administration would be guaranteed
in return for a concession on sovereignty.
13. Hong Kong opinion will of course need to be consulted.
Suggestions on ways in which this might be done are in Hong Kong
telegram number 881, and the Governor's assessment of current
views is in Hong Kong telegram number 944 (Annex E).
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