TNAG-1311-FCO40-1673-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 163

CONFIDENTIAL

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**INTERNATIONALISE IT) ANY SERIOUS ARGUMENT WOULD RUFFLE THE PATH TO RATIFICATION. THE ADVANTAGE OF

(B) IS THAT THERE WOULD BE NO RISK OF A DIFFERENCE WITH THE CHINESE PRIOR TO RATIFICATION.

THE DISADVANTAGE OF (B) IS THAT ALTHOUGH WE WOULD PRESUMABLY NOT BE PREPARED TO DELAY FOR ANY LENGTH

OF TIME, WE WOULD NOT BE IN A POSITION TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION AFTER RATIFICATION TO REGISTER THE AGREEMENT.

4. ON BALANCE WE SEE THE ADVANTAGE OF (B) AS THE GREATER AND THE DISADVANTAGE OF (B) AS THE LESSER, AND THEREFORE PREFER THAT COURSE

EVANS

HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER)

PS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

MR WILSON

SIR J FREELAND

COPIES TO:(VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET

OFFICE

MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE

SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR P CRADOCK, ROOM K195

CONFIDENTIAL