TNAG-0295-FCO40-331-Long-term-study-of-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 35

MOTER SM. 17.3

Mr Mo

Mr Wilford

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Copy No.

1

N.

2

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

Mr Wilford's minute of 3 March.

2. In view of the text as amended I would prefer to omit paragraph 2 of the draft submission. I doubt whether there is a great enough difference between us now to merit special mention. Apart from that I agree with the draft submission.

3.

I am afraid that the new paragraph 7 of the paper presents me with some difficulties:

(a)

(b)

تے ہے

it seems out of line with course 4(c)(ii). In course 4(c)(ii) we are speaking about an explicit agreement for a new lease. Paragraph 7, however, discounts the chances of the Chinese entering into a new explicit agreement. It suggests that in 1997 they might be prepared to allow things to run on, with nothing said on either side. But both Mr Wilford and I agree that this would not be a satisfactory situation from our point of view. There seems therefore no supporting argument for what is offered. under one version of the paper, as our principal option;

Paragraph 7 states that we are considering the situation fifteen (?) years from now. This may be misleading since what we are thinking of is an approach to the Chinese at a favourable point, which may be well short of 1997. What will count will be the Chinese attitude at the time of the approach, rather than at the time of the expiry of the new territories lease.

16 March 1971

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P Cradock Planning Staff

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