TNAG-0229-FCO40-265-Long-term-study-of-future-of-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 3

3. It would be wrong, however, to concentrate

entirely on the negative aspect. The Chinese

are for the present clearly prepared to accept

the continuing existence of the Colony on account

of the economic and political advantages it

brings them. There are no signs that an early

renewal of the 1967 campaign of violence is

likely, and the Chinese apparently recognise that

it may take a long time to bring the Hong Kong

Government to subservience using the methods

which they describe as "long-term struggle".

Their immediate aims are to increase to the

maximum their commercial interests in the Colony

and to concentrate on broadening the base of

their support among the people. This is a state

of affairs which in the best circumstances might

last for some years yet. Moreover, in the

meantime a new regime may emerge in China.

There is no solid ground for believing that any

such regime would be more accommodating.

But

it would be wrong to assume that it would not.

4. In view of the difficulties which seem

almost inevitable for the future, officials in

making their study were understandably concerned

to ensure that all feasible precautions for

forestalling disaster had been considered and

that no opportunities had been overlocked for

initiating policies now with the Chinese that

might make the problem easier to deal with in

future. It is, I think, a reasonable conclusion