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a) Likely Chinese attitude: While UK
recognition of. Chinese sovereignty would be welcome to them, the PRC would probably find it impossible to agree to a territorial lease which would recall the 'unequal treaty' of 1898.
b) Acceptability for HMG: Acceptable if
obtainable so long as the new 'lease' did not contain unacceptable conditions.
c) Effect on Hong Kong: Helpful to
confidence since the present system of government in the colony could be preserved and existing institutions could be maintained.
(ii) UK recognition of Chinese sovereignty over the
whole of Hong Kong in return for Chinese agreement that the UK should continue to administer and control the territory under a management contract':
No more than cosmetic changes would be made in
present arrangements for administration. The UK
would remain responsible for the conduct of external
affairs. Change would only occur with reasonable warning; there should if possible be a period of notice of, say, 15 years.
·
a) Likely Chinese attitude: Very difficult
since it would require public approval by PRC of British administration after Chinese sovereignty had been 'recovered'. But easier for the PRC than 'lease-back'.
b) Acceptability for HMG: Acceptable so long
as the arrangements gave the UK an adequate degree of control of domestic and external affairs, preferably by means of an international agreement, which would be registered with the United Nations and published, ie so long as the UK was in international law entitled to exercise sufficient degree of power and jurisdiction in respect of the whole territory. Arrange- ments not embodied in clear language in an agreed published document would be more subject to Chinese political uncertainties.
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