TNAG-1041-FCO40-1291-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 61

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Mr Williamson

Mr McQuade

Mr Clift

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INDEX

Reference. HKK 040/1

260A

HRK 040/1

12 DECISOL

A

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

1. In his minute of 19 November Mr Clift asked for a presentation of the legal implications of a possible relinquishment of sovereignty.

2. I discussed these at some length with Mr Rushford, and we agreed to take as a starting point the premise that the admin- istration of Hong Kong would continue in precisely the same way as at present, in spite of the relinquishment of sovereignty. If such an agreement were reached then the legal arrangements would not present much difficulty.

3.

Needless to say, this would be optimum situation. As Mr Rushford implies in his paragraph 6, there are any number of points on which the Chinese, if they wished, could seek concessions or special treatment.

4. I will give some thought to paragraph 11. Peking's views at some stage.

We might seek

CODE 18.77

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Sie (2609

9 December 1981

In Me Quad A 9/12 Minite above.

the Clift. that seen.

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vasion things - paragraph 5, it is going to be much more difficult to get their agreement. We need the minimmon formality, to acheen

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our and their ends. What political declaration. But the draft informal agrements at Armexes ATB both michide references to British administration but it might he possible to avoid it. for instance of of Annex A assures that British adminstration continues.

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