TNAG-0570-FCO40-703-Planning-paper-on-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 68

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in China, possibly as the result of Mao's death, could have repercussions on China's attitude to the future of Hong Kong, though the struggle which has already occurred this year has not so far done so. It should be remem- bered that the Chinese Government do not attach the same significance as HMG to the year 1997 since the lease on the New Territories is, in their view, the result of an "unequal" and, therefore, invalid treaty.