TNAG-1324-FCO40-1736-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1984 — Page 156

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(IV) THE CHINESE ARE LIKELY TO FOCUS ON THE SECOND HALF OF PAKA 3. IT COULD BE MADE MORE PALATABLE TO THEM WHILE

AT THE SAME TIME CONTRIBUTING MORE TO THE UNVEILING PROCESS IF THE PASSAGE BEGINNING WITH THE ELEVENTH SENTENCE WAS AMENDED ON THE FOLLOWING LINES:-

''AT PRESENT CONTINUITY IS ASSURED BY BRITISH ADMINISTRATION. BUT WE BEAR IN MIND THE REALITIES OF THE SITUATION, INCLUDING THE FACT THAT THE LEASE ON 92 PER CENT OF THE TERRITORY EXPIRES IN 1997. FOR THE FUTURE IT IS POSSIBLE TO VISUALISE OTHER WAYS IN WHICH CONTINUITY CAN BE ASSURED. THE IDEAS ABOUT HONG KONG'S FUTURE PUBLICLY EXPRESSED BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT THEMSELVES LAY HEAVY STRESS ON CONTINUITY OF HONG KONG'S SYSTEMS AND THE WAY OF LIFE OF PEOPLE IN HONG KONG. OUR PRESENT TASK IS TO EXAMINE ALL OPTIONS THOROUGHLY AND SERIOUSLY TOGETHER WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. WE ARE STILL NEGOTIATING. THE SHAPE OF THE FINAL PACKAGE WHICH WE DRING TO THIS HOUSE FOR APPROVAL WILL BE CRUCIAL. I BELIEVE THAT, WHILE CHANGE IN HONG KONG IS INEVITABLE, WE CAN REACH AN AGREEMENT WHICH WILL ASSURE GENUINE CONTINUITY AND AUTONOMY FOR HONG KONG AND THE PRESERVATION OF ITS

WAY OF LIFE.

EVANS

-- FUTURE OF HONG KONG

D/PLANNING STAFF

ED/PUSD

D/ED/PUSD

PES B. (MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER (SIR TAN SINCLAIR

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/ME LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

SIR W HARDING

KA WILSON

JAR WRIGENT

SIR C TICNELL

COPIES TO:

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS NEWS ́ ́D

HR BURROWS LEGAL-ADVS

MR COLES NO 10 DOWNLING ST

MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE

MR GOODATI. CABINET OFFICE

MR. BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D

PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR.P CRADOCK BU KĪRS

SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STRELA

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