SECRET FUTURE EGRET
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COULD BE ENTERTAINED. NO REALISTIC PROSPECT OF SUCH AMENDMENTS.
CAN THEREFORE OFFER NO PROSPECT OF BETTER AGREEMENT. ALTERNATIVE
IS NO AGREEMENT. IN THIS CASE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THEY WILL PUBLISH THEIR OWN PLAN FOR HONG KONG. WHETHER OR NOT AN AGREEMENT, NEW TERRITORIES REVERTS TO CHINA IN 1997 AND REMAINDER NOT VIABLE. FOLLOWS CHOICE IS BETWEEN REVERSION TO
CHINA UNDER AGREED BINDING ARRANGEMENTS OR REVERSION TO CHINA
WITH NO AGREED ARRANGEMENTS. THIS NOT A CHOICE IMPOSED ON PEOPLE
OF HONG KONG AT WILL OF HMG, BUT A CHOICE IMPOSED BY FACTS OF
HISTORY.
INVITATION TO COMMENT ON AGREEMENT
12. AS HMG PROMISED, PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITY
TO EXPRESS VIEWS ON AGREEMENT. THEREAFTER HMG WILL DECIDE WHAT
RECOMMENDATION TO MAKE TO PARLIAMENT. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF
PROCEDURE FOR TESTING ACCEPTABILITY. PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE NOW
BEING ASKED TO COMMENT ON THE OVERALL ACCEPTABILITY OF THE
ARRANGEMENTS NEGOTIATED BETWEEN HMG AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT
FOR HONG KONG, IN LIGHT OF THE BACKGROUND SET OUT ABOVE.
B. TEXT OF AGREEMENT AND ANNEXES
C.
EXPLANATORY NOTES ON AGREEMENT AND ANNEXES
D. ANNEXED RELEVANT DOCUMENTS
ARTICLE 31 OF CHINESE CONSTITUTION : INTERNATIONAL COVENANTS ON
CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS AND ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL
RIGHTS: POSSIBLY RELEVANT ARTICLES FROM THE GATT.
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS BY 13 AUGUST.
YOUNG
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
SIR W HARDING
COPIES TO:
SIR P CRADOCK
MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS
MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS
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SECRET FUTURE EGRET