TNAG-0229-FCO40-265-Long-term-study-of-future-of-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 74

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Moreover, the whole matter is so hypothetical

subject to

and eet with so many inponderables, that

it isdoubtful if anything is to be gained

by attempting now a detailed assessment

of the possibilities.

6.

To sum up, the general conclusions which I

should like my colleagues to endoree are

these:

(a)

There is no prospect of our

reaching agreemenfabout the future

of Hong Kong with the present

Chinese Government.

(b) Any unilatera attempt on our

part now towork towards some new

status for Hong Kong would

lead to an immediate loss of

confidence within the Colony and

could quickly be disastrous¿.

could

(c) If a more pragmatic government

were to emerge in China we should

consider the possibility of

negotiating with them new

arrangements for Hong Kong.

But it would be premature to attempt

now a detailed assessment of the

possibilitiesą.

(a) For the present, in administering

the Colony we must assume, and

be seen to assume, that we shall be

there at any rate until 1997.

Qut sempete

This may seem a somewhat exemplory policy.

out set

As I acknowledged at the outside, disaster

could befall us at any time with very little

notice. But short of some radical

{

transformation of the situation e.g. an

all out effort by the Chinese to make

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