CO537-(1262-1649) — Page 946

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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS’BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT

The circulation of this paper has been strictly limited.

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It is issued for the personal use of Mr. Tik Lloyd.

TOP SECRET

Copy No.

4145/46 (AX)

F..(0)(46)122

5TH DECEMBER. 1946

FAR EASTERN (OFFICIAL) COMMITTEE

RESTRICTED

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Ref.:

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

CO 537/1649

restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed 'Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet. that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright

THE FUTUR OF HONG KONG

Joint Hemorandum by the Foreign Office and the Colonial Office

+

1. The Colony of Hong Kong consists of three areas, two of which were ceded outright to Great Britain. The remaining area is leased. The areas are:-

2.

(a) The island of Hong Kong, coded outright to Great

Britain by the Nanking Treaty of 1842, with an area of about 32 square miles.

(b) tart of the Kowloon Feninsula opposite Hong Kong, ceded outright by the reking C:nvention of 1860, with an area of about 3 aquare miles.

(c) The New Territories (sometimes referred to as "the

leased territory of Kowloon"), loased for 99 years

by the ruling Convention of 1898. They include part of the mainland and a number of islands in the vicinity of a total area of 359 aquare milos.

The reason for the lease of the New Territories, as stated in the Freamble to the Convention, as that un extension of Hong Kong territory was necessary for th proper defence and protection of the Colony. hat has now become an equally important factor is th: much closer economic intercom nication bot 'een certain pa'ts of tl not territories and the Colony itself, o.. the fact that the only existing airport, and all blternative eitos for en airport, are in the new territories, the construction in recent yours of large vatorworks in the new territories for supply of water to Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, and the extension into the now territories of docks, industrial and commercial building? and residential extensions of the urban area of Kowloon.

3. In the course of the negotiations which preceded the conclusion, in 1943, of a treaty providing for the abolition of extraterritoriality in China, the Chinese Government made

a request for the rendition of the New Territories. His Majesty's Government refused to consider this question in

+ See may attached (Annex IV)

/connexion

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