TNAG-1166-FCO40-1446-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 79

Redacted under FOI exemption section 27(1)

DSR 11C

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-2-

However, it is still just

passiace

eonceivable that the Chinese might have in mind a solution

for Hong Kong which excludes continuing British adminis-

tration.

4.

If this is in the minds of the Chinese, they are on

the wrong track. Confidence in the Territory, particularly.

among investors, is likely only to be maintained if

autonomy is guaranteed by the administration continuing

the same lines, ie through the British.

5.

In my view, our own interests point to the need to

keep Hong Kong going on that basis. The option of uni-

lateral withdrawal is not really open to us. From the

most negative viewpoint, a British pull-out would create

enormous problems for us. Our political and economic

interests in the Far East would suffer and we would be

faced with a major demand from Hong Kong people to come

to this country.

/6.

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