I now if the is night
.......
night, on reflexion
1s with disuss
рилет.
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either way we would imagine they would be ready to give confidence building signs to the business community and the population generally. Nevertheless it should remain our objective to reach some clear-cut
understanding with China if this is at all achievable.
15. One thing seems clear however: as it is not
now possible to envisage a meaningful discussion with China of the problem in its entirety, there is nothing to be said for discussing particular aspects of it with the present Chinese Government. Any attempt to do so, or to seek to involve them in solving any of the Colony's internal problems will almost certainly meet
with a refusal to discuss a matter which they at present propose to regard as exclusively for us. Even in the unlikely event of their agreeing to do so, any agree- ment reached could not bind any successor Government to the present one. And finally discussion could result in their concentrating on small changes of tacti- cal interest to them (e.g. the appointment of an official Chinese 'representative' which has been raised in the past but which is at present a dormant issue)
without commitment on the long term problem of interest
to us.
This could well limit our freedom of manoeuvre
when the time comes to consider the problem as a whole.
16. It follows that the best course to adopt now is to accept the status quo so far as Hong Kong's external position is concerned; and to wait for the successor
Government to that of Mao to emerge, establish
itself throughout China, and define a general foreign policy against which to judge the nature and timing of any approach on Hong Kong. Meanwhile it should suffice to avoid actions which past experience leads us to believe would be inimical to China's interests; and to represent publicly that the existing understanding with China over Hong Kong illustrates the cooperative and friendly nature of our relations which is of mutual benefit, not least of all in trade. (The recent Spey deal, for instance, proves that China counts on our relations being good for some time to come). The policy is not without risks and will, on best assumptions
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/of the continuing
7386 D073815 140M 5/74 Cr.P.C. Gp.839/3
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