Nɔ.6 (15634/1021/47)
Copled to:
Hang Kong, do 2 Canton, No.2
SECRET
sir,
BAITISH
NAHKIKO
3rd January, 1948.
With reference to Mr. Lamb's telegram to His Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong ko. 323 of 25th November, repeated to you ae No.1097, I lavo the honour to report the receipt of an alde-memire from the Ministry of Foreign Affnire dated 12th Recember in reply to the repesentations addressed to the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Liu Shih-shun, in connection with the attempt of the Chinese Government to hold elections for the National Assembly in the old walled city of Kowloon.
This commurication wakes no eltempt to deny or disown the issue of instructione for an election to be organised in the old city of Kowloon. On the contrary it boldly contends that such instructions were not at variance with the official reply both oral and written, from the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs that the Chinese Government had decided not to hold elections in British territories. The side-nemire actually concluded with the provocative ascertion that "Kowloon is a leased t:rritory and the sovereignty of such territory naturally remaine vested in the Lessor country, so that the holding of electiore in the leased territory of Kowloon by the Chinese Government does not in fact conflict with the aseurance that no elections will be held in British territories".
3.
It will be noted that the Micistry of Foreign Affe Lee have now extended the Chinese claim for continuing rights of sovereignty to cover not merely the old walled city of Kowloon, by virtue of the erroneous interpretation of the local proviso regarding jurisdiction in the lezing Convention of 1898, but indeed the entire leased territory under the pretension that certain apparently very extensive powere of intervention are recerved to Chi's as the land- lord. I had previously begun to derive the improvsion from the records of recent convereations between members of the Embassy staff and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on matters relating to Hong Kong that the Chinese Governaert have now decided that any claimo bared upon the specific terms of the 1993 treaty carried little weight and have therefore shifted their ground to general principles of over-lordship expounded to suit their case. This communication would appear to confirm such a theory.
4.
His jeety's Pricoipal secretary of state
for Foreign Affairs,
Foreign office,
LONDON, 3. w. 2.
!