ADVANCE COPY
IMMEDIATE
Mis Sargina
FUTURE OF ZONG ZONG ADVANCE COFRES
To see
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SECRET
FM PEKING 27103OZ JAN 64
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 161 OF 27TH JAN 84
COFF FO:
ME OCLES, To. 10 CCMING SO
MC Roberta
News
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Sir P. Cradock
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YOUR TELNOS 93 AND 94 TO HONG KONG: FUTURE OF HONG KONG:
KING WORSTOCRAPER ON CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES.
i. HE SEE SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE DRAFT. IN PARTICULAR PARAGRAPH 6 AS DRAFTED COMES CLOSE TO CHALLENGING THE PREMISE THAT SOVEREIGNTY AND THE RIGHT OF ADMINISTRATION WOULD REVERT TO CHINA. IT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT NOT TO OVERRID ON THIS PAPER.
2. I SHOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE THE ANNEX ON FLAGS DROPPED FROM THIS PAPER. IT IS AN ISSIE OF GREAT SENSITIVITY BUT LITTLE INTRINSIC IMPORTANCE. THE ANNEX AS DRAFTED APPEARS TO SUGGEST THAT THE CHINESE FLAG WOULD, IN PRACTICE, DE FLOWN ONLY IN THE SAME WAY AS THE FLAGS OF OTHER COUNTRIES.
I QUESTION WHETHER THIS IS WISE OR NECESSARY. IF HONG KONG, HOWEVER AUTONOMOUS, IS TO BE PART OF CHINA, IT IS NOT LOGICAL TO SEEK TO LIMIT THE FLYING OF THE CHINESE FLAG THERE. THE DIST WE CAN HOPE FOR IS PERHAPS THAT THE CHINESE AND THE HONG KONG FLAGS WOULD FLY TOGETHER ON HOSA KONG GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. HOWEVER, THIS ISSUE IS SO EMOTIVE THAT WE STRONGLY ADVISE THAT IT SHOULD BE LEFT FOR LATER DISCUSSION.