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continuation of British administration in substitution for
treaties whose validity is not accepted by China.
Negotiation
of such a 'management contract' would be regarded as a major
achievement in Hong Kong, and in the world at large.
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27. It would of course be necessary to justify such an
arrangement in Parliament. The essential points are:
(a)
(b)
(c)
it would meet the wishes of the local people;
Hong Kong owes its existence up to now to
constructive co-operation between Britain and
China;
the new arrangement would ensure the continuation
of effective British administration over the
whole territory as opposed to its early run
down and eventual loss.
Nature of Management Contract
28.
The UK would need to be given substantial powers to
act as 'caretaker' for the whole territory internally and
internationally for a term of years running into the next
century or, preferably, for an indefinite term, terminable
by either country on as long notice as possible. In
jurisprudential terms, this means that the UK would be
accorded under international law the exclusive right to
administer the territory and to conduct external relations
in respect of the territory. This need not preclude the
establishment of autonomous institutions in the territory or
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