TNAG-1331-FCO40-1758-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 316

3.24

ALTHOUGH A FEW OF THE SMALL NUMBER OF

ORGANIZATIONS WHICH HAVE REJECTED THE DRAFT AGREEMENT HAVE DONE SO BECAUSE OF THEIR INABILITY TO ACCEPT ITS SPECIFIC PROVISIONS, MOST HAVE SCARCELY TOUCHED UPON THOSE PROVISIONS, BUT RATHER HAVE CHALLENGED THE VALIDITY OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHT OF BRITAIN AND CHINA TO DETERMINE THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG IN THIS WAY. THEY HAVE ARUGED EITHER FOR THE STATUS QUO, OR FOR HONG KONG TO HAVE THE RIGHT OF SELF-DETERMINATION, OR THAT ANY NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN WITH TAIWAN AND NOT WITH CHINA. THEY HAVE STATED THAT THE PRC CANNOT BE TRUSTED TO KEEP ANY PROMISES MADE: THE EXAMPLE OF TIBET WAS QUOTED. THE FIVE GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO USED STENCILLED PROFORMAS TO COMMUNICATE THEIR VIEWS TO THE OFFICE GENERALLY TOOK THE SAME LINE.

3.25

''THEY SHOULD RENDER EARLY SUPPORT FOR THE

HONG KONG PEOPLE TO DETERMINE THEIR OWN

DESTINY BY WAY OF A REFERENDUM SO AS TO AVERT THE FATE OF FUTURE PERSECUTION BY THE

COMMUNISTS.''

-(TRANSLATION)

COTTON BLEACHING AND DYEING

FREE WORKERS UNION

''IF BRITAIN WANTS TO ABROGATE OR AMEND THE TREATIES, SHE SHOULD APPROACH THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA AS IT IS THE LEGAL PARTY TO THESE

TREATIES.!!

(TRANSLATION)

THE SUN YAT SEN MEMORIAL

ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG LTD

THE MINORITY OF INDIVIDUALS WHO REJECTED THE DRAFT AGREEMENT DID SO BECAUSE OF A COMPLETE INABILITY TO TRUST IN ITS IMPLEMENTATION BECAUSE OF THE BASIC INCOMPATIBILITY OF THE TWO SYSTEMS, OR BECAUSE OF CHINA'S PAST HISTORY OF POLITICAL UPHEAVALS, OR BECAUSE OF PAST PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. IN SOME CASES, THERE WAS SO STRONG A DISLIKE OF ONE OR MORE OF THE SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT THAT ACCEPTABILITY AS A WHOLE BECAME IMPOSSIBLE. THE STRONGEST FEELINGS EXPRESSED CAME FROM THOSE WHO CONSIDERED THEMSELVES ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE PROVISIONS

ON NATIONALITY.

**THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO HAVE COMPASSION ON THOSE PEOPLE WHO FLED THE CRUELTIES OF COMMUNIST CHINA TO HONG KONG SO

AS TO ASSIST IN RESETTLING THEM ELSEWHERE."

AN INDIVIDUAL

'BRITAIN CANNOT SIMPLY RESCIND A HISTORIC

AND MORAL RESPONSIBILITY OF LOOKING AFTER HER SUBJECTS. THESE PEOPLE ARE LEGALLY BRITISH AND CANNOT BE MADE STATELESS.''

AN INDIVIDUAL

G

SECRET-26-

/CONCLUSION.