CO537-4847 — Page 51

XVI.

NEW TERRITORIES.

SECRET

Action by Hong Kong.

Likely Communist Policies

and Actions.

(a) The Communists may revive

i.

questions deriving from the text of 1898 Peking Conven- tion. These points are in particular:-

Chinese jurisdiction in Kowloon City (this question is dealt with separately under Kowloon City); ii. The phrase "Chine se

officials and people shall be allowed as heretofore to use the road from Kowloon to Hsinan" The old name for Po On district7

(a)i. Jurisdiction over Kowloon City is a separate matter dealt with elsewhere.

(a)ii. This phrase is meaningless under present circumstances, and is not likely to be revived. In any case it is inapplicable if Kowloon City is not under Chinese jurisdiction.

iii. The phrase "it is further agreed that the existing landing place near Kowloon City shall be reserved for the convenience of Chinese men-of-war, merchant and passenger vessels, which may come and go and lie there at their pleasure: and for the convenience of movement of the officials and people within the City", iv. The phras e "it is further

understood that there will be no expropriation or expul- sion of the inhabitants of the district included within the extension, and that if land is required for pub- lic offices, fortifications, or the like official pur- poses, it shall be bought at a fair price".

V.

(a)iii. This phrase is also meaning- less under present conditions and the landing place in question is now half a mile inland in view of reclamation carried out since 1898.

(a)iv.

This phrase may be a consider- able source of trouble in connection with the project to build a new air port near Deep Bay. It is not however an absolute prohibiti on in acquiring land for public purposes, but can reasonably be interpreted as providing for just compensation. In the case of Doop Bay this principle has already been announced and this point must be stressed in future publicity on the question. There are ample precedents in the New Territory for compensating persons dispossessod where land is required for public purposes, e.g. the Jubiless Reservoir scheme and other projects.

Any Communist propaganda will have to be answered on the above lines. Also it will have to be emphasized that the proper redress for any persons who have grievances are the Courts of the Colony, and not the Chinese authorities. Nevertheless the Communists can be expected to exploit any grievance actual or supposed.

the phrase "the area leased (a)v. The Chinese authorities have not

to Great Britain....includes the waters of Mirs Bay and Deep Bay, but it is agreed that Chinese vessels of war,

whether.

..

hitherto pressed the claim that Chinese vessels of war have a right to use the waters of Mirs Bay and Deep Bay. The view of the Colonial

Office and...