TNAG-0123-FCO40-159-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 152

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68

(i)

to abdicate our position by unilateral action,

declaring our intention to go in a specified periud

of time - with or without an indication of our

readiness to talk to the Chinese about it;

(ii) to accept indirect Chinese influence over the way

in which we administer Hong Kong with a view to ultimate transference of control;

(iii) to approach the Chinese formally with a view to

negotiating our withdrawal.

(iv)

This might include

(but not initially) an offer to consider an

interim period of dual Anglo-Chinese control of the Colony;

to approach the Chinese informally with a view to reaching a covert understanding with them about our eventual withdrawal at a suitable agreed date.

Given the character and attitude of the present regine in China, the only course to which we could be sure of the Chinese responding at the present time would be our acceptalice of some measure of indirect Chinese control (the second course). Any attempt at present to abdicate our position by unilateral action (the first course) would meet with a sharp and hostile

Chinese reaction and we would be subject to the maximum

harassment and humiliation in our attempt to extricate our- selves; it would also quickly lead to chaos within the Colony. We certainly could not hope today to engage the Chinese in genuine and reasonable negotiations (the third course).

69. Unilateral action to withdraw (the first course) might be the only course open to us in circumstances in which we felt obliged to withdraw (paragraphs 56-57 above). But as a course of action likely to be actively opposed by China it

should not be adopted unless Chinese intransigence or internal conditions compel us to do so. We can be sure that the Chinese will not stand by and permit us to withdraw with- out some interference. However, in circumstances where the climate for a negotiated handover appears favourable but tho Chinese do not respond to our overtures, it is conceivable that a declaration of intention to withdraw coupled with an expressed readiness to talk about it might bring the Chinese

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/to the