TNAG-0848-FCO40-1058-Future-of-Hong-Kong-New-Territories-leases-1979 — Page 112

Sir Duff

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1 6 MAR 1979

1.

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2. We have never stated publicly that Hong Kong will one day revert to Chine; nor would we wish to do so, at any rate at this stage. There is a legal difficulty in that long kong Island and certain other areas were ceded to Britain in perpetuity. There is also the political point that any such statement would have a serious affect on confidence unless it were linked with very firm Chinese assurances that the status quo would be maintained for a

very long time. Our public statements have therefore been along the lines that 1997 is a long way off and that it is difficult to forecast what might happen then; and that in the meantime our position on the status of Hong kong is well known.

15 larch 1979

KJT McLaren

Hong Kong and General Department

Covering SECRET