TNAG-1332-FCO40-1762-Future-of-Hong-Kong-White-Paper-on-the-Joint-Declaration-1984 — Page 314

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COULD BE ENTERTAINED. NO REALISTIC PROSPECT OF SUCH AMENDMENTS.

CAN THEREFORE OFFER NO PROSPECT OF BETTER AGREEMENT. ALTERNATIVE

IS NO AGREEMENT. IN THIS CASE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THEY WILL PUBLISH THEIR OWN PLAN FOR HONG KONG. WHETHER OR NOT AN AGREEMENT, NEW TERRITORIES REVERTS TO CHINA IN 1997 AND REMAINDER NOT VIABLE. FOLLOWS CHOICE IS BETWEEN REVERSION TO

CHINA UNDER AGREED BINDING ARRANGEMENTS OR REVERSION TO CHINA

WITH NO AGREED ARRANGEMENTS. THIS NOT A CHOICE IMPOSED ON PEOPLE

OF HONG KONG AT WILL OF HMG, BUT A CHOICE IMPOSED BY FACTS OF

HISTORY.

INVITATION TO COMMENT ON AGREEMENT

12. AS HMG PROMISED, PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITY

TO EXPRESS VIEWS ON AGREEMENT. THEREAFTER HMG WILL DECIDE WHAT

RECOMMENDATION TO MAKE TO PARLIAMENT. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF

PROCEDURE FOR TESTING ACCEPTABILITY. PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE NOW

BEING ASKED TO COMMENT ON THE OVERALL ACCEPTABILITY OF THE

ARRANGEMENTS NEGOTIATED BETWEEN HMG AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT

FOR HONG KONG, IN LIGHT OF THE BACKGROUND SET OUT ABOVE.

B. TEXT OF AGREEMENT AND ANNEXES

C.

EXPLANATORY NOTES ON AGREEMENT AND ANNEXES

D. ANNEXED RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

ARTICLE 31 OF CHINESE CONSTITUTION : INTERNATIONAL COVENANTS ON

CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS AND ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL

RIGHTS: POSSIBLY RELEVANT ARTICLES FROM THE GATT.

GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS BY 13 AUGUST.

YOUNG

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SIR W HARDING

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SIR P CRADOCK

MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS

MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS

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SECRET FUTURE EGRET