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benefit from the territory over a considerable period.
7. We must nevertheless assume that the eventual Chinese aim is to
end the British connection and reintegrate Hong Kong into China. Official Chinese statements conveniently devoid of a timescale offer no clue as to when or how this might happen. The Chinese line in private, and in briefing for left wing supporters in Hong Kong, is that the problem is one for the next generation or the one after that to solve; and Deng Xiaoping told the Governor of Hong Kong during his recent visit to China that Hong Kong would maintain its capitalist system until early next century. However, it seems unlikely that the Chinese will be ready to look much beyond, say, the next 10-15 years, or be willing to commit themselves to any particular timescale for an eventual settlement: they will wish to keep their options
open. Hong Kong will therefore have to continue to live with
uncertainty, though a satisfactory solution of the problem of the New Territories leases would inject a massive dose of confidence.
8.
}
An assessment of the concessions which the Chinese might seek in return for a satisfactory solution of the New Territories leases problem lies outside the scope of this paper. But there are a number of matters which could be raised, or revived, during
the course of the next ten years.
These include:
(a)
The appointment of an official Chinese
representative in Hong Kong. The Chinese Foreign Minister raised this question with
the Governor of Hong Kong in March. It had
previously been dormant for some years and
there had been indications that the Chinese
were satisfied with the present arrangement whereby the Director of the NCNA is regarded
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/as
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