TNAG-1331-FCO40-1758-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 299

2.2

PARAGRAPH 29 OF THE INTRODUCTION IN THE WHITE PAPER

STATES THAT ''HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT HAVE A DUTY TO MAKE CLEAR BEYOND ANY POSSIBILITY OF MISUNDERSTANDING THE ALTER- NATIVE TO ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGREEMENT SET OUT IN THIS WHITE PAPER. IN THEIR VIEW, THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY OF AN AMENDED AGREEMENT. THE ALTERNATIVE TO ACCEPTANCE OF THE PRESENT AGREE- MENT IS TO HAVE NO AGREEMENT. IN THIS CASE THE CHINESE

GOVERNMENT HAS MADE IT PLAIN THAT SUCH A UNILATERAL PLAN WOULD

INCLUDE ALL THE ELEMENTS INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT AGREEMENT, NOR WOULD IT HAVE THE SAME STATUS AS A LEGALLY BINDING AGREEMENT

BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.''

2.3

PARAGRAPHS 32 AND 33 OF THE INTRODUCTION STATE THAT THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE WOULD BE PROVIDING AN ANALYSIS AND

ASSESSMENT OF OPINION IN HONG KONG AND CONVEYED AN INVITATION TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO COMMENT ON THE OVERALL ACCEPTAB-

ILITY OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT AGAINST THE BACKGROUND SET OUT

IN THE WHITE PAPER.

2.4

THE DRAFT AGREEMENT CONSISTS OF

A JOINT DECLARATION, IN WHICH THE UNITED

KINGDOM DECLARES THAT IT WILL RESTORE HONG

KONG TO THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN

1997, AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT DECLARES

ITS BASIC POLICIES TOWARDS HONG KONG:

ANNEX | IN WHICH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT

ELABORATES ON ITS BASIC POLICIES FOR HONG

KONG IN FOURTEEN SECTIONS:

ANNEX || WHICH SETS OUT THE PROVISIONS

CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A

SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP UP TO THE

YEAR 2000:

ANNEX 111 WHICH DEALS WITH LAND LEASES AND

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A LAND

COMMISSION.

THERE IS ALSO AN ASSOCIATED EXCHANGE OF MEMORANDA ON THE

STATUS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

CITIZENS (BDTCS) AFTER 1997, AND RELATED ISSUES.

SECRET-9-

THE

Σ