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11. THE ABOVE IS WRITTEN ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT A REFERENDUM WOULD BE RULED OUT BOTH ON POLITICAL GROUNDS (IN PARTICULAR LIKELY CHINESE OBJECTIONS) AND BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY OF EDUCATING THE POPULATION AS A WHOLE IN THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE ISSUE. WITHOUT A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUES A REFERENDUM WOULD BE AN UNCERTAIN AND CONTENTIOUS INSTRUMENT.
12. CONSULTATION IS A QUESTION TO WHICH WE SHALL NEED TO GIVE FURTHER THOUGHT AS DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE PROGRESS, BUT AS FAR AS HONG KONG IS CONCERNED, THE MEANS OUTLINED ABOVE WOULD BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A REASONABLY REPRESENTATIVE COVERAGE OF THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF THE TERRITORY.
13. HER MAJESTY'S AMBASSADOR IN PEKING MAY WISH TO COMMENT ON THE LIKELY CHINESE ATTITUDE TO SUCH A CONSULTATIVE PROCESS (PARA 9 ABOVE).
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