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A second element in HMG's position, though not always a consistent one, has been that the Hong Kong question had to be treated as a whole and that, although in our view there was a real distinction between the ceded and leased parts of Hong Kong (ie the New Territories), the ceded parts were not a viable unit without the New Territories. Thus there was never any real question of "self determination" in some form being an option for the ceded territories while the leased ones had to return to China.
3. The first part of the Joint Declaration negotiations centred on the question of sovereignty and no real progress was made until the Prime Minister's letter of March 1983 to Zhao Ziyang in which she said "Provided that agreement could be reached between the British and Chinese governments on administrative arrangements for Hong Kong which would guarantee the future stability and prosperity of Hong Kong, and would be acceptable to the British parliament, and to the people of Hong Kong, as well as to the Chinese government, I would be prepared to recommend to parliament that sovereignty over the whole of Hong Kong should revert to China." At that time, HMG were still hoping for a deal whereby the Chinese were given sovereignty in exchange for continued British administration over Hong Kong. It the continuance of the status quo, ie British administration, for which HMG argued, not for any self administering Hong Kong.
4.
I am afraid none of this provides a direct answer to Mr Burns' question. As I have said, I do not think the issue was viewed in those terms. HMG recognised a moral commitment to the people of Hong Kong, and, as the Prime Minister's letter shows, held that any agreement should be acceptable to the people of Hong Kong. But is did not argue for self-determination in the negotiations with the Chinese, nor did it encourage the Hong Kong government to take steps along that road through development of the local political system.
5.
I am returning your copy of the ICJ report.
Should any
others come your way I would find it very useful to have one here in RAD and would be grateful if you could bear me in mind on any further distribution.
Rigs
RF Wye
Far Eastern Section
Research & Analysis Dept
OAB 2/125 210 6219/6216 14 May 1992
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