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practice that has been established in the particular field that now concerns us, especially if reinforced by an explicit Entrustment of the kind now proposed, qualifies Hong Kong to be regarded as a territory which enjoys "full autonomy in the conduct of its external commercial relations etc.". While this is a question which calls for a more subjective answer, the Attorney-General considers that we should be justified in so contending and he sees nothing in the constitutional instruments or in general constitutional law or convention which should preclude us from doing so.
The Attorney-General is grateful for your offer to come over, or to ask Paul Fifoot to come over, to discuss the matter with him. But he sees no reason to trouble you to do so unless you yourself have any questions to pursue in the light
of his advice.
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CONFIDENTIAL
H STEEL
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