35
I in
52723/18
Sung we to splant the lase.
Jum
Convention between China and Great Britain of the 9th
June. 1898 which were set out in the letter from this
department No. F 4270/3338/10 of the 8th September last.
He agrees with Sir C. Clementi's view that it is
undesirable that there should be any change in the present
policy of granting leases for seventy five years from the
1st July 1898, renewable for a further term of twenty four
years less three days, but it would appear to be desirable
to adopt some other method than that suggested in paragraph
5 of the memorandum under reference with a view to
reassuring prospective lessees who may be dissatisfied with
the length of the term which is all that it is within the
power of the Hongkong Government legally to grant.
An alternative method which I am to submit for the
consideration of Mr. Secretary Amery would be to inform
prospective lessees in such cases that when the question
of renewing the seventy five years' lease comes up for
consideration in the year 1973 every effort will be made,
possibly by means of some arrangement with the Chinese
Government, to give the lessees greater security of
tenure than could be afforded under the normal extension
of twenty four years less three days.
F
I am,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
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