FCO_49_622_PLANNING_PAPER_ON_HONG_KONG_1976 — Page 28

12.

Page 28 RET Page 28 of 293.

This, from their point of view, is a

The

satisfactory formula for reconciling their ideological

and nationalistic commitment to repossession with more

pragmatic considerations favouring the continuance of the

status quo. It is scarcely to be expected that they

could decide now whether economic or political factors

in China will make it desirable to continue special

arrangements for Hong Kong; but even if they do accept

this, they are most unlikely to admit it, particularly

with the succession to Mao still to be decided.

formula for public consumption is consistent with the

signals about current Chinese attitudes manifest in their

actions in specific situations (see Annex A). It also

carried the corollary that for China the internal affairs

of the Colony are an exclusively British responsibility

with the proviso that nothing should be done internally

(eg in the way of developing representative institutions)

which could infringe the Chinese claim that Hong Kong is,

and will remain, a part of China.

13.

But China's attitude towards the Colony has

varied with the years and the fact that it is at present

favourable, provided the status quo is maintained, is no

argument for believing that it will continue to be so for

the foreseeable future. Recent events in Peking confirm

that there are two main risks; that the ideologues

will gain ascendancy over the pragmatists in the Chinese Page 28 of 20vernment that succeeågf the present one on Page 28 of 203

death

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