53852/38
BECRET AND
PERSONAL.
Colonial Office,
Downing Street, 3.V.l.,
4 october, 1938.
Record.
my
dear
paccheste
I think you would like to ‘know how the
matter of the extension of the lease of the New
Territories stands, about which you wrote personally
to the secretary of state on the 4th August. I am
therefore enclosing a copy of the record of an inter-
Departmental meeting which was held to consider the
question. The matter has been further referred to the
Ioard f Trade for their observations on it from the
general British commercial aspect, and it may also be
decided to refer it to the Committee of Imperial
Defence. We will of course communicate with you when
there is a decision. Meanwhile I fear that I am not
in a position to add anything further.
2.
I understand that His Majesty's Ambassador
in China has raised the question again with the
SIK GEOFFRY NORTHCOTH,K.C.M.G.
Foreign