CO129-571-16 New Territories 13-4-1938 - 12-12-1938 — Page 132

SECRET.

MEMORANDUM.

The economic importance to Hong Kong

of the retention of part or all of the

New Territories on the expiry of the

existing lease, viz. in 1997.

Sent under)

separate cover.

*

(The New or Leased Territories include all

mainland and islands shown on the map attached to this

memorandum within the broken line except those parts

coloured red, the latter being British territory ceded

in 1841 or 1861).

.I.

1.

Kowloon urban area, present and future.

Town extension already existing.

The land available for building which lies within

British kowloon, viz. that part of the peninsula (coloured

red on the map) which had become permanently British by

1861, is now almost entirely taken up. Consequently, the

town has for some years been extending to the north of the

1861 boundary: its present extensions are approximately

indicated by the blue area on the map. The population

(exclusive of sampan and junk dwellers) of Hong Kong

Island, British Kowloon and the area between British

Kowloon and within the blue area are as follows:-

1

Hong Kong Island

British Kowloon

Extension area

454,000

274,000

90,000

In addition to residential and industrial buildings of

a permanent character the extension contains:-

(1)

Shamshuipo Cantonments, capable of housing two

battalions:

(2) Kowloon Tsai, the site of the future military