3
Secondly, China's current leadership is sincere
in its desire to give Hong Kong people self-administration
and to allow the present systems to continue for 50 years
after 1997. The details on the draft Hong Kong mini-
constitution will have to be carefully studied by Hong Kong
community leaders.
9.
Thirdly, Britain has a binding political
obligation and responsibility to the 3 million Hong Kong
people who by 1997 will still have claim to British
Nationality.
Britain can under no circumstances abrogate
her political responsibility to these 3 million people
after 1997. It is essential that the British links in Hong
Kong after 1997 should be of such a nature that most of
these people can be given time to be absorbed in the
post-1997 Hong Kong body politic. It is hoped that Hong
Kong will continue its international ties with the British
Commonwealth in some form of "Associated Territory" status
after 1997.
/10.
;