TNAG-0752-FCO40-956-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 177

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QR 500

SECRET

PREMISO INTE

BIER CAT A

FM F C O 281640Z

SECRET

TO IMMEDIATE LISBON TELNO 115 OF 28 JUNE

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG AND PEKING.

1978

TRS Mini A

YOUR TELNO, 213 (NOW REPEATED TELEGRAPHICALLY TO HONG KONG AND PEKING): HONG KONG AND MACAU.

So

FROM HONG KONG AND GENERAL DEPARTMENT.

(37

43

1. COPIES OF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS ARE BEING SENT BY BAG:

A) TREATY OF NANKING 1842:

B) PEKING CONVENTION 1860:

C) CONVENTION FOR THE EXTENSION OF HONG KONG 1893;

D) LETTER OF 8 MARCH 1972 FROM THE CHINESE PERMANENT REPRESENT ATIVE TO THE UN COMMITTEE OF 24 SETTING OUT THE CHINESE ATTITUDE

TOWARDS THE PRESENT STATUS OF HONG KONG:

2. IN THE BRITISH VIEW THERE IS A CLEAR LEGAL DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE STATUS OF THE TERRITORIES CEDED IN PERPETUITY UNDER THE TREATY OF WANKING AND THE PEKING CONVENTION (HONG KONG ISLAND, KOWLOON AND STONE CUTTER'S LAND) AND THOSE LEASED UNDER THE 1898 CONVENTION (THE NEW TERRITORIES). BUT THIS DISTINCTION IS OF LITTLE PRACTICAL SIGNIFICANCE, IF ONLY PECAUSE THE CHINESE DO NOT ACCEPT IT. IN

THEIR VIEW ALL THREE TREATIES ARE QUOTE UNEQUAL UNQUOTE AND CONSEQUENTLY INVALID, AND HONG KONG IS QUOTE PART OF CHINESE TERRITORY OCCUPIED BY THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES UNQUOTE. THE CHINESE HAVE CONSISTENTLY MAINTAINED THAT THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG (LIKE THAT OF MACAU) IS A QUESTION TO DE SETTLED QUOTE IN AN APPROPRIATE WAY WHEN CONDITIONS ARE RIPE UNQUOTE. CHINESE LEADERS HAVE ALSO

MADE IT PLAIN PRIVATELY THAT CONDITIONS ARE UNLIKELY TO BE RIPE

FOR VERY MANY YEARS AHEAD AND THAT THEY ARE CONTENT WITH THE STATUS

QUO IN TE MEANTIME. (THOUGH THE CHINESE HAVE SAID THE SAME IN

OTHER CONTACTS, EG WITH BUSINESS MEN, WE WOULD EXPECT THE

SECRET

/ PORTUGUESE