SECRET
THE ALTERNATIVE TO THE PRESENT AGREEMENT
ors
>
23. The agreement has been negotiated in detail between
representatives of the British and Chinese Governments and contains
everything which could realistically be put into it. Our The
negotiations have at all times taken into account the views
expressed during the negotiations by the Hong Kong people and their
interests. The agreement must be seen as a whole. As with other
international agreements negotiated between nations, there is no
realistic possibility of amending the text, which has been
initialled by both sides. The Chinese Government in particular has
made it clear that once the agreement has been initialled and
published they cannot entertain proposals for amendment.
Or
mproved
set
28. HMG have a duty to make clear beyond any possibility of
misunderstanding the alternative to acceptance of the agreement
out in this White Paper. There is no possibility of an
agreement, or an amended agreement, она different agreement. The
alternative to acceptance of the present agreement is to have ΠΟ
agreement at all. In this case the Chinese Government have made it plain
would be
at an end
crochet
clear that negotiation His dear that there could be publish their
own plan for Hong Kong.
There
no
and that they will
guarantee that such plans
would include all the elements included in th present draft
agreement as a result of negotiations.
lovele
wiz
But t
is also diar
What is certain is that a
an
unilateral plan wit not have the same status as a legally binding
agreement between two Governments. Whether or not there is
agreement between HMG and the Government of the PRC the New
Territories will revert to China on 1 July 1997 under the terms of
the 1898 Convention of Peking, and the remainder of Hong Kong (the
ceded territories of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and Stonecutters
Therejne
Island) which would not be viable alone, must also revert. The
present territory of Hong Kong, including the New Territories, is an
integral whole which it would be impossible to divide.
SECRET