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W(B)L 51-7406
CONFIDENTIAL
si fact
Chinese propaganda had Zachieved only a very
limited success because the population of
Hong Kong included a large proportion of people
who had fled from China because of their dis-
like of the régime there.
12.
Hong Kong was different from our other
overseas territories, because the New Territories
were held under a 99-year lease. This prevented
us from advancing the territory to independence
as we had done with so many other overseas
territories.
We could bring about more parti-
cipation by the people in the management of
their own affairs but the territory would have
to remain a colony. The Chinese were in
practice content with this. Our task was
therefore to hold the position while enforcing
the rule of law. Mr
Aichi said that the
Japanese Government understood the difficulty
arising out of the lease but were concerned
about the future of Hong Kong. When the lease
expired would the New Territories automatically
revert to China? Mr. Stewart replied that the
New Territories would become Chinese again.
Hong Kong and Kowloon would not be viable as a
To
separate entity./Mr. Aichi's question about
what we were planning now, it was impossible
to frame an answer. Public discussion now
could have unfortunate results. We did not by the love know what kind of China would exist that He base expired
dato
In the present state of uncertainty we
must concentrate on keeping Hong Kong as orderly
and as prosperous as we could.
CONFIDENTIAL