C. O.
Mr. Carstairs.
Laine
2/10/36.
Mr. Jacodi
Sent
Mr.
71
4
DRAFT MEMORANDUM ON THE TRADE RELATIONS
BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA.
Sir C. Parkinson.
Sir G. Tomlinson.
Sir C. Bottomley.
Sir J. Shuckburgh.
Permt. U.S. of S.
Parly. U.S. of S.
Secretary of State.
DRAFT.
FURTHER ACTION.
When Hong Kong was acquired
during the Opium War of 1838-42 it was a
barren and almost uninhabited island,
populated by a fishing community of, at
most, 2,000 persons. It was formally
ceded to the British Crown by the
Treaty of Nanking in 1842, by which
were opened the first five Treaty Ports.
The so-called "New Territories" were
acquired in 1898 on a ninety-nine years
lease and are recognized in the terms
of transfer as an extension of British
territory. No rent is paid in respect
of this area, in which respect it
differs from the various foreign
Concessions in Canton, Shanghai, Hankow,
Tientsin and elsewhere. The whole
territory of the Colony of Hong Kong is
thus