CO129-592-8 Future Policy in Hong Kong 1-1-1945 - 26-11-1945 — Page 19

Mr. Andrew asked me whether I could

confirm that any payment was made. I told him that I did not recall any payment of the sort. I have since looked through Sayer's History of Hong Kong and Eitel's history and in neither can I find any reference to such a payment.

The cession of Hong Kong was first

arranged under the Treaty of Chupeni on January 20th, 1841, the provisions of which are discussed on page 122 et seq of Eitel's book. On August 29th, 1842, the successful British advance on Nanking resulted in the conclusion of the Treaty of Nanking, the provisions of which are set out on page 155 of Eitel's book. On June 26, 1843 the Treaty was

ratified at Hong Kong and 4 months aftwards & Supplementary Treaty (8th October, 1843) was con- cluded with cert in further articles especially referring to Hong Kong which are dealt with on pages 160 und 161 of Eitel's book.

Kowloon was at first leased in perpetuity by the Cantonese Viceroy, Lao, on March 21st, 1860 (page 359 of Eitel) and this was converted in the Peking Convention (24th October, 1860) into a cession of that piece of territory.

In none of these instances can I find any reference to a payment of money by H.M.G., either in respect of what was estimated to be the real value of the territories or as a token.

? We might ask the Foreign Office Research Department if they would be so good as to confirm from their sources of information that this was the case.

Dictated by G.E.J. GENT.

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31. 7. 45.