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

the high wall of

a national frontrer were placed between

Hong Kong

While I agree with Mr. Rogers' conclusion that

no useful negotiations with China (i.e. the present

Government at Hankow) could be expected until there is

a settlement of the present hostilities, I am more

inclined than he to believe in the real difficulties

which Hong Kong would face if the New Territories

BEDAKAVEDA, and the virtual impossibi-

lity of maintaining and administering the Colony on

anything like the present lines without the New

Territorieshmaning economically in close limeson with

The present "ease" of the New Territories

does not expire for another 60 years. It was obtained

from China in 1898 for the reason given in the Agreement of that year, viz. because this extension of Hong Kong

territory was necessary for the proper defence and

protection of the Colony. What we had in mind at that

time was no doubt a defensive frontier against a Chinese

enemy. The area was then a largely uninhabited area of

a ridge of mountains with foothills on either side.

This same area, as has been repeatedly explained in past

memoranda, and as the Governor explains again in his

present despatch, has now been invaded by the buildings

and streets of the modern city of Kowloon, by the

extension of the docks and other port activities, by

the building of a great aerodrome for the use both of the

R.A.F. and for international air lines, and finally by the construction of the Shing Mun Valley water reservoir (one of the most considerable water engineering feats

in the Colonial Empire), with its accompanying pipelines

down into Kowloon and across the harbour to the island.

All this shows how the circumstances nave

changed since 40 years ago when we considered it necessary

to obtain possession of the New Territories for defence purposes, and whatever the need then, it is certainly

greater