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face (particularly the internal security problem) point
to the need to reach some understanding or arrangement
with China.
The Possibilities
65. Against this background of a need to find a solution
in co-operation with China, we consider the possibilities
of divesting ourselves of Hong Kong.
66. If a separate status could be found for Hong Kong,
independent of Britan or China and under United Nations.
auspices or otherwise, we would have done what we could to
protect the non-Communist population of Hong Kong from
forcible "liberation". But there is no real prospect of
any solution which does not provide for the resumption of
Chinese sovereignty over Hong Kong. The present Chinese
Government is certain to deny that the United Nations has
any standing in the question: it has on a number of
occasions in a United Nations context made it clear, through
Communist Member States of the United Nations, that the future
of Hong Kong is not a matter for the United Nations but rests
between China and Britain. Any change in this attitude is
inconceivable in the foreseeable future. And we do not have
any means of bringing effective pressure to bear on China to
accept any solution on these lines. An economic embargo on
trade with China, if indeed it could be effectively organised
for the sake of Hong Kong, would seriously damage the Colony's
economy. The Colony would cease to have any economic value
to China and the danger of a forcible take-over would
therefore be greatly increased.
67. The possibilities are therefore:-
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/(i)
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