CO537-4800 — Page 55

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UPLICATE

53052/49

Colordial Office,

Hou

The Circh Mixnse,

Great Baith Street,

S.7.1.

Zet Septembor, 1949.

You will remember that in the course of our discamsion the other day about Kowloon we referred to the telegrna from Fletch:r-Cooke and Hr. Lá's recarim abɔut Chinese sovereignty in the new territories.

I enclose an extract of the telegram in question for ense of reference. In this connection I would refer to 3.0, correspondence under your reference P.7826/6953/20 of the 22nd Cotober, 1937 between Orde and Sir Henry (bors, and an extreat from the Canton Intellig÷nos Report for the half year ended 30th September, 1957 (H.M. Consul-General'a despatch No. 6 of the 30th October) sent to us under your ruforence F.9257/183/10. We have referred this question of sovereignty to our Legal adviser həre who feels that it camat be doubted that during the ourroncy of the lesse of the new territoriɔɔs Kia lajesty exercises sovereignty over the lensed territorietie He agrees that in strict law the lossing stats reteim a reversionary property in the territory, but does not think that that impairs the de fhoto and de jure, sovereignty of His liajesty in the meantime." This, he says, ma alearly the vicu of the law officem and it aces to be the view of many of the textbook authorities tow.

F.7.3.1. ICAMA, Sk., Q.N.G.,

FORSIG! CFFICS,

9.5.2.

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