Governor's country residence, the Golf course, the
innumerable private bungalows, the Texaco oil station,
the Brewery and probably many others which I have
forgotten. The procedure followed on the retrocession
of Wei-hai-wei might be of value as a model. (Curiously
the two leases, I believe, although for very different
purposes, have a good deal in common, besides their
date).
12. It is fairly certain that the handing over of
the villagers concerned to the tender mercy of Chinese
officials will be as unpopular with the victims as was
the corresponding action at Wei-hai-wei. It is equally
certain that no Chinese would dare to say so and that
action on the lines of a plebiscite would be worthless.
13. The question of the waters of Mirs Bay and Deep
Bay is a defence matter on which I should not venture
an opinion. The very remarkable (probably unique)
frontier of high-water mark on the Chinese shores of
those bays indicates that what was in mind was less,
perhaps, defence proper than the right of chase of
anything afloat. Escaping pirates and the rest could
reach sanctuary by leaping ashore into China. The
abolition of Hong Kong's police patrols of those waters
would be very unpopular with the honest fishermen, from
5