TNAG-1036-FCO40-1286-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 101

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SECRET

-7-

DSR 11C

that the time was not ripe for such a move.

c) Participation in the Administration of Hong Kong.

This might be an extension of a request for a Chinese

representative. Peking could suggest that the

representative's functions should tobeyond a quasi-

'diplomatic' role. This might be done in a number

of ways, eg:

i) a right to represent the interests of the

Chinese population of Hong Kong (whatever their

legal status in the eyes of HMG);

ii) The right of consultation by the Governor on

major decisions of policy;

iii) A seat on the Executive and/or Legislative

HMG'S Response

Councils.

Sovereignty

9.

The position is complicated by the differing status of

Hong Kong and the Kowloon Peninsula on the one hand and the

New Territories on the other. The former were annexed to the

British Crown by the Treaty of Nanking (1842) and the

SECRET

/Convention

Dd 0532000 400 M 5/78 HMSO Bracknell

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