FCO_49_622_PLANNING_PAPER_ON_HONG_KONG_1976 — Page 17

HONG KONG

General

1.

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03

3.

Although Hong Kong is very much a going concern

and, with the exception of a contribution to the costs

of her defence, no economic liability to HMG, it poses

a difficult political problem because:

and

2.

(a) it is by far the largest remaining colonial

dependency and normal evolution towards independence

is debarred by China which claims ultimate

sovereignty;

(b) the Secretary of State is responsible to

Parliament for its present and future welfare and

yet our power to influence developments there is

circumscribed;

(c) its economic success has created substantial

local interests not necessarily compatible with

those of Britain;

(d) Britain has a contingent obligation towards

large and growing numbers of British subjects of

Chinese origin resident there sensitive to any change

suggestive of an end to British rule and the

imposition of the harshly authoritarian rule of

the mainland.

The problem is likely to become more acute

in the future if Hong Kong, as expected, continues to

develop; as the termination date of the New Territories

a

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