TNAG-0926-FCO40-1144-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 184

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4.

I notice that your letter says that the memorandum does not apply to what in fact amounts to at least half the dependent territories listed in the annex. This being so, I should have thought it was best not to give wide publicity to the memorandum in Britain. If it is referred to in the House of Commons Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, then I hope it will be made clear that independence, or fundamental constitutional change, are ruled out for Hong Kong and certain other territories because of their special circumstances.

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CONFIDENTIAL