CO129-513-4 Land leases in the new territories 8-11-1928 - 29-7-1929 — Page 25

F2225/1785/10

Sir,

.W.1.

21st June, 1929.

25

I am directed by kr. Secretary Henderson to refer

to your letter No.62723/29 of the 3rd May on the subject of

land leases in the New Territories of Hongkong and to state

that further consideration has, as requested, been given to

the proposals put forward and the contentions advanced in

paragraphs 5 and 6 of the secret memorandum copy of which

was enclosed in your letter No. 62723/29 of the 9th April.

The proposal to grant leases running beyond the term of the

ninety nine years lease to His Majesty's Government was

fully considered at the conference held at the Foreign Office

on November 7th last. It was agreed that in view of the

dangers involved in adopting this course Sir C. Clementi

should on his return to Hongkong consider with his advisers

the practicability of adopting some alternative method of

attaining the object in view. It would appear that Sir C.

Clementi has reverted to the original position taken up by

him at the conference in question and has put forward

proposals, not alternative to, but substantially the same as

those then rejected on account of the dangers and apparent

breach of faith involved. After the fullest consideration,

however, Mr. Henderson adheres to the views expressed in the

letters from this department Ho. F 4270/3338/10 of the 8th

September, 1928, and No. F 1785/1785/10 of the 25th April

last.

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.

I am,

sir,

Your obedient Servant,