CO129-509-15 Water supply- development scheme 30-1-1928 - 17-1-1929 — Page 128

70 years.

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(6) It is outside the area which is the last

line of defence in an attack on Hongkong.

As regards (a)

Long before the 70 years have

expired both the status of the New Territories and the Island

of Hongkong will have been the subject of discussion between

the British and the Chinese Governments and some arrangement will

have been arrived at which will bring both into the same position.

I am confident that although Kongkong will be the last sanctuary of the foreigner to come under review, come it must eventually, and that before the expiration of 70 years. In any event

70 years is a considerable period and no one is going to

contend that the Aberdeen Scheme will meet the demands of the

next 70 years by a very long way.

with me.

As regards (b) This argument carries no weight

In the first place the invasion of Hongkong will

in all probability be from the sea and the defending force

many miles out at sea, in fact if it should come to having to

defend Hongkong by land it will be abandoned to await the

result of the war in the same way that Tsing Tak was in the

Great War. Should the attacking force be from the land one

assumes with modern long range fire and aeroplanes

that where

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