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be pointed out that the terms of the Lease which
form enclosure 2 in Mr. Kirke's despatch confer a
stronger title upon His Majesty's Government than
that which obtains in the case of any other Concess-
ion in China. In no other instance, so far as I
know, has the Chinese Government expressly resigned
"all right, title and claim" to the land leased in
perpetuity to us for use as a Concession.
But I
doubt if we should be justified in refusing to re-
cognise the Sovereign rights of China over Shameen
and in any case the point is of little practical
importance as we must, I submit, pursue a common
policy with regard to all British Concessions in China.
His Majesty's Government holds the Concessions
on perpetual lease from the Chinese Government and
sub-leases them to let-holders on Crown leases for
99 years.
Foreigners can acquire land in the Con-
cessions on engaging with the consent of their Consuls
to abide by the Land Regulations. The exact terms
under which this arrangement is carried out within
the