159
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 15. Status of Hong Kong.
The area administered by the Government of
Hong Kong falls into three parts (1) the island of
Hong Kong (ii) Kowloon peninsula (iii) the Now
Territorius.
The island of Hong Kong was coded to His Majesty's
Government by the Chinese Government as a result of
the first Anglo-Chinese war (1839-1842).
The Kowloon peninsula, a small area opposite the
island of Hong Kong on the mainland, was coded by the
Chinese Government as a result of the second Anglo-
Chinese war (1856-1860).
In 1898 His Majesty's Government obtained from
the Chinese Government, for the better defence of the
colony, a 99 year lease of an area to the north of the
Kowloon peninsula and of certain islands adjacent So
Hong Kong, These are the Now Territorios.
The two coded areas and the Now Territorios arc
collectively known as the Crown Colony of Hong Kon5.
Unofficial claims for the return of the colony to
China are made fairly frequently in the Chinese press,
and it is possible that the Delegation may be questioned
on the subject at press conferences or elsewhere. If
this occurs the Dolegation should reply that they
are not in a position to express an opinion on the
subject. The issue is not a live one at the moment,
and any statement by the Delegation might have
undesirable consequences.
/ The