TNAG-0945-FCO40-1164-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 75

SECRET

137

Mr Williamson

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

1.

HKK040

18 NOV 1980

No $19.4. лю

I have discussed the draft butline of the above paper with Mr Clift and will adjust it to take account of various comments which he has made. I shall then discuss it with Mr Donald.

2. In the meantime, I should be grateful if your Section could put in hand some of the basic spade-work which will be necessary as background to the paper itself. The tasks which I suggest you start on now are as follows:

(1) Annex explaining the related problem of land leases in the

New Territories;

(2) Historical precedents for quitting other colonial territories,

e.g. Aden;

(3) An historical description of our surrendering other leased

territory in China;

(4) A note on the importance of Hong Kong to the UK in terms of:

(a) bilateral trade;

(b) trade with China;

(c) investment;

(d) value of invisible earnings to the UK;

(e) the extent of present and likely future ECGD commitment;

(5) The value of Kai Tak in air services agreement with third

countries;

(C) The cost of the defence commitment;

(7) Statement of the assurances so far given by the Chinese on

Hong Kong;

(3) Present size of the civil and police services, any projections

for the future, and proportion of UK to Chinese officers; (9) Outline evacuation plan for UK citizens and loyal, vulnerable

Chinese;

(10) The UK's public position on Hong Kong, i.e. Ministerial

statements, etc.

(11) The legal position in:

(a) international law; and (b) British law;

(12) Statement of the likely citizenship situation in Hong Kong,

post-the new Nationality Act;

(13) Extent of Hong Kong's economic relationship with Guangdong

Province;

(14) Relationship of the RMB and the Hong Kong Dollar; (15) The development at Tin Shui Wai and any other significant/

Chinese investment on major projects.

SECRET

THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN RETAINED IN THE DEPARTMENT UNDER SECTION 3(4) OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 1959

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