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This
departure indefinitely for the sake of our hostages.
might, however, prove to be the only way in which we could
effect an orderly withdrawal in the face of uncompromising
Chinese hostility and opposition. But it would seem prudent
to follow it only if circumstances during the negotiations
compel it; to offer it earlier would undoubtedly put
irresistible temptations in their way. It could only be
accepted as an overt arrangement at the very end and for
a short period, after the public had clearly recognised that
we were on our way out.
72. The fourth course
P
the informal approach with a view
A
seems the only one that
to reaching a tacit understanding
may be open to us in the foreseeable future. The purpose
would be to tell the Chinese, in such a way that the
authenticity of the information was beyond doubt but the
approach could be denied if the Chinese tried to use it
against us, that:-
(a) We acknowledge Hong Kong must eventually be returned
to China and is essentially (geographically and
ethnically) Chinese.
(b) We ourselves are anxious to effect an orderly transfer
as soon as public opinion in Hong Kong will allow us
to.
(c) To this end we will endeavour to avoid doing anything
in Hong Kong to make the transfer more difficult,
e.g. by constitutional changes towards representative
and more responsible Government.
(a) We seek Chinese co-operation in not alienating Hong
Kong opinion and turning it against a transfer in
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