TNAG-1874-FCO40-2665-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-other-British-Dependent-Terr-1989 — Page 42

DSR 11C (Revised 5/87)

SERITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted

gain.

Pitcairn is in fact the only remaining British Dependent

Territory in the South Pacific. It is a remote island

with very few natural resources and a tiny population.

(52).

Unclassified

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

The people of Pitcairn are happy with the present

relationship between their island group and Britain, a

relationship which offers them far more security for the

future than would independence. On account of its size

and its remoteness, there is no threat to Pitcairn from a

neighbouring state.

Hong Kong's position is of course unique in that 92% of the territory is held on a lease from China. It was clear

that the remaining 8 per cent of Hong Kong's land area

would not be viable without the New Territories

which contain most of the territory's agriculture and

industry, its power stations and its airport and

container port.

1

It was against this background that the British

Government resolved to remove the uncertainty created by

the expiry of the New Territories' lease on 30 June 1997,

by opening discussions with the Chinese Government about

Hong Kong's future. The British side initially argued

hard for the retention of British administration in Hong

*

Kong after 1997. But after protracted discussion it

became clear that the continuation of British