TNAG-0277-FCO40-313-Visits-of-Ministers-from-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 65

CONFIDENTIAL

4. The Chinese leadership are making sustained efforts

to restore order inside China and to broaden their

contacts abroad. In Hong Kong the local Communists appear to be under firm instructions to keep within the law and to direct their activities towards building a

broader political base within the Colony. The long-term prisoners still serving sentences for their part in the disturbances in 1967 (115 in number at the end of March, 1970) are a continuing point of friction in Sino-Hong Kong

relations, but we are not under hard pressure from the

Chinese for their release at the moment.

5. The lease for the New Territories is due to expire

in 1997. It is difficult to predict so far ahead what

the Chinese will do when the deadline comes. Much will

depend on how the Chinese leadership evolves over the next

few decades. But it seems doubtful whether any foreseeable

Chinese Government would be prepared to contemplate a

further extension.

Far Eastern Department,

19 May, 1970.

CONFIDENTIAL

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