30 January 1992
Tim Rathbone Esq MP
House of Commons
London
SWLA OAA
Sea
Tim,
HKA 225/1
Foreign & Commonwealth
Office
London SWIA 2AH
From The Minister of State
со
On 31/1
Misc
Mr Stone Joandithames
p.a.
броже
Williams
Thank
you
31
Thank you for your letter of 16 January, enclosing one from your constituent, Mr Roger Sparkes of Milton Street, near Alfriston.
The Joint Declaration between Great Britain and China on the future of Hong Kong does not specifically mention any cemeteries. But we have absolutely no reason to believe that the current policies will be changed.
The Hong Kong Cemetery in Happy Valley lies on Crown land, allocated for the purposes of a cemetery. The Authority responsible for the land is the Director of Urban Services in the Hong Kong Government. For burials prior to 1 December 1977, plots in the Hong Kong Cemetery were allocated in perpetuity, save in the case of an overriding need for the land for a public purpose. This is a matter of policy not law. The Director of Urban Services does not envisage any change in this policy post 1997.
The
The Urban Services Department have offered to visit the relevant plots during their next inspection of the Cemetery, should Mr Sparkes so wish, and to write to him directly. Department will also ensure that Mr Sparkes is informed well in advance in the highly unlikely event that any disturbance to the plots may be envisaged.
I hope that this will be of some comfort to Mrs Morris.
You fre
Malch
THE EARL OF CAITHNESS