UK CONFIDENTIAL
INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING MEMORANDUM
HONG KONG
Introduction
1. The British Crown Colony of Hong Kong is located off the southeast coast of China on the eastern side of the Pearl River estuary and about 150 km south- east of Kuang-chou (Canton). All the colony's frontiers are with Kwantung Pro- vince of the People's Republic of China: in the north there is a short land frontier of just over 29 km; the boundaries then follow the high water marks along Tai Pang Wan (Mirs Bay), Hau Hoi Wan (Deep Bay) and most of the west coast of Lantau Island, and these points are linked by straight lines across the waters of the South China Sea. Total land area of Hong Kong colony, including recent reclamations, is 1046 sq km, made up as follows:
a.
Hong Kong island (DE2) together with a few surrounding islets 75.4 sq km.
b.
Kowloon (DE3) plus Ngon Shun Chau (Stonecutters Island) (D3) 10.6 sq km.
C.
The New Territories, consisting of an area of the Chinese mainland plus some 235 islands and islets, 959.5 sq km.
2. The island of Hong Kong was ceded by China to Britain in 1841 (confirmed 1842); this was followed in 1860 by the cession of the Kowloon peninsula, including Stonecutters Island.
The New Territories were leased from China in 1898 for a period of 99 years. The old city of Kowloon (a walled area of approximately 420 sq m) was not included in either of the two later territorial acquisitions, and its status has been challenged at various times by different Chinese governments the last occasion being in 1962. The issue is not currently an active one.
3. Government of the colony follows a very similar pattern to that of British colonies elsewhere. The Governor (who is also Commander-in-Chief) represents, and is appointed by, HMG. He is assisted by, and presides over, an Executive Council and a Legislative Council. The former currently consists of five ex-officio members (of whom the Commander, British Forces, Hong Kong is one) and nine nominated members. The Legislative Council consists of five ex-officio members (including the Governor as president) up to twenty official and twenty- five unofficial members. This Council advises on and enacts the laws of the The Chief Secretary colony, and approves all expenditure from public funds. acts for the Governor in the latter's absence.
4. The official languages of the colony are English and Chinese; Cantonese, the dialect of the great majority of the inhabitants, is that most widely used. British weights and measures are in use alongside a variety of local Chinese measures. Unit of currency is the Hong Kong dollar (HK g), divided into 100 cents.
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UK CONFIDENTIAL