W.S. CANTER
बह
March, 1967.
DEFENCE EXFEN: ITURE STUDY No. 13
• 13(c)
Tens of Ref.
Special Study on Hong Kong.
Hong Kong was acquired from China by treaties
entered into in the last century. By far the greater part
of the colony, the New Territories (364 out of 398 square
alles), is held on lease expiring in 1997. It is a Crown
Colony, administered by the Governor with the advice and
consent of Executive and Legislative Councils consisting of
officials and nominated unofficial members. The Chire se
attitude towards the Colony imposes limitations on
constitutional advance.
2.
The population has grown enormously since the War,
with the influx of large muabers of refugees from China,
and now stands at about 3.8 million. 99% of the population
is Chinese, but probably more than half now have the status
of British subjects.
3.
Hong Kong is entirely self-supporting and does
not depend on any grant or other aid from the United
Kingdom. In 1949-50 its traditional entre-pot trade was
shattered by the combined effect of the adrent to power of
a Communist Government in China and the Korean war. Started
largely by the finance and skills of overseas Chinese who
sought refuge in the Colony, industry is now the basis of
its economy, secounting for more than 85% of domestic
exports. Industrial expansion contimes to depend very
largely on outside investment and, in the absence of a
/large
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