TNAG-0850-FCO40-1060-Future-of-Hong-Kong-New-Territories-leases-1979 — Page 172

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As Mr de Winton's further letter of 19 July shows, the Governor did not succeed in convincing the Attorney-General. Mr Rushford has replied to this letter to correct a mistaken version of the Governor's views on one point.

5.

We must now await Chinese reactions to the explanation of our intentions given to them by Mr Cradock on 5 July (see Peking telegram No 622: a copy of the text handed over by the Ambassador is also attached). The Chinese may well object to action on the lines of Clause 3. If they do not, we will need to consider how best to deal with the Attorney-General's misgivings: the department's Legal Adviser still feels that, as a matter of law, it is within Her Majesty's power to make contingent provision for the future administration of the New Territories beyond the expiry of the Lease, if this course is considered desirable on political grounds.

26 July 1979

inangrun

R JT McLaren

Hong Kong and General Department

Cc:

Sir I Sinclair

Mr Rushford

Mr Samuel, FED

P.S./ Mr Blaken.

aware of this.

this stage.

The Minister will with to be No action is required at if we have no response from the Chinese by early September we shall have to consider verser how to proced fwether with this

Pare 4 at flag C suggests that

not have fully seized the

the A-C political

may

Wars Contag

or economic SECRE I points ; 27/7.

26/Vii

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