CO129-427 - Public Offices - 1915 — Page 45

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be pointed out that the terms of the Lease which

form enclosure 2 in Mr. Kirke's despatch confer a

stronger title upon His Majesty's Government than

that which obtains in the case of any other Concess-

ion in China. In no other instance, so far as I

know, has the Chinese Government expressly resigned

"all right, title and claim" to the land leased in

perpetuity to us for use as a Concession.

But I

doubt if we should be justified in refusing to re-

cognise the Sovereign rights of China over Shameen

and in any case the point is of little practical

importance as we must, I submit, pursue a common

policy with regard to all British Concessions in China.

His Majesty's Government holds the Concessions

on perpetual lease from the Chinese Government and

sub-leases them to let-holders on Crown leases for

99 years.

Foreigners can acquire land in the Con-

cessions on engaging with the consent of their Consuls

to abide by the Land Regulations. The exact terms

under which this arrangement is carried out within

the