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HMG, though in certain areas, including trade, immigration
allowed
and finance, the Hong Kong Government is entrusted by HMG-
with power to conduct some external relations. A Political
J
Adviser (seconded from the FCO) advises on external policy
aspects of Hong Kong Government policies.
Х
Possible Changes
Simple Acknowledgement of Chinese sovereignty
26 would not necessarily imply
11. A simple acknowledgement by HMG of Chinese sovereignty
would imply that the UK no longer had sovereignty over the
ceded areas, and alse that the international lease of the
New Territories had no continuing validity in international
Unters however there were some agreement with the blinere If it were unrequited, the UK would no longer be able to regulate British presence.
Hong Kong the UK would no longer be abhin practice to administer the territory as a colony. There
law.
would be no point in making such a concession except in
return for a concession by the PRC that British administration
of the territory could nevertheless continue.
Acknowledgement of eventual Chinese sovereignty
12. HMG could acknowledge that sovereignty over the ceded.
areas should eventually be restored to China at an appropriate
future time after 1997 to be agreed later with the PRC on the
understanding that British administration of the whole territory
should continue until the agreed date. This device could be
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/acceptable