COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION
28TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE:
THE BAHAMAS : 16-22 OCTOBER 1982
Brief No.
THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG
Historical Background
1. Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula were ceded
to HMG in perpetuity by treaties in 1842 and 1860. The
New Territories, which comprise over 90% of the land area
and contain more than half the population, were leased to HMG
for 99 years in 1898. The lease is due to expire in
June 1997 unless other arrangements are made.
2. The Government of the People's Republic of China has
repeatedly stated that it regards the treaties as 'unequal'
and that it considers Hong Kong to be a historical accident,
which will be dealt with when the time is ripe. Recently,
however, it has become clear that the Chinese have accepted
to need to face up to the question of the future of Hong Kong.
Both sides have recently been studying the matter very
carefully.
Prime Minister's visit to China: September 1982
3.
After talks in Peking in September of this year between
the Prime Minister, Vice-Chairman Deng Xiaoping and
Premier Zhao Ziyang, the following announcement was made
on 24 September:
/ 'Today