CO129-513-4 Land leases in the new territories 8-11-1928 - 29-7-1929 — Page 35

35

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52723/18

Sung we to splant the lase.

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Convention between China and Great Britain of the 9th

June. 1898 which were set out in the letter from this

department No. F 4270/3338/10 of the 8th September last.

He agrees with Sir C. Clementi's view that it is

undesirable that there should be any change in the present

policy of granting leases for seventy five years from the

1st July 1898, renewable for a further term of twenty four

years less three days, but it would appear to be desirable

to adopt some other method than that suggested in paragraph

5 of the memorandum under reference with a view to

reassuring prospective lessees who may be dissatisfied with

the length of the term which is all that it is within the

power of the Hongkong Government legally to grant.

An alternative method which I am to submit for the

consideration of Mr. Secretary Amery would be to inform

prospective lessees in such cases that when the question

of renewing the seventy five years' lease comes up for

consideration in the year 1973 every effort will be made,

possibly by means of some arrangement with the Chinese

Government, to give the lessees greater security of

tenure than could be afforded under the normal extension

of twenty four years less three days.

F

I am,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

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