TNAG-0295-FCO40-331-Long-term-study-of-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 32

HONG KONG

CONFIDENTIAL

ANNEX

اس

(1)

Historical Notes

1. The land area of the whole Colony of Hong Aong is

approximately 400 square miles. Hong Kong Island (29 square

miles) was ceded to Britain under the Treaty of Nanking in

1843. Kowloon Peninsula up to Boundary Street, together with

Stone-Cutters' Island, Green Island and Ap Lei Chau Island (3 square miles) were ceded in perpetuity in 1860 under the

Convention of Peking. In 1898 the New Territories, which consist

of the rural areas north of Kowloon and some 235 islands, were

leased to Great Britain for 99 years, under the (later) Convention

of Peking.

Population

2.

The latest estimates put the population of Hong Kong at

4,035,000, of whom ethnically and on the basis of language more

than 98% are Chinese.

Approximately one-fifth of this total

population is resident in the New Territories.

Constitution

The

3. Hong Kong is a Crown Colony. In accordance with the powers

vested in him by the Letters Patent and Royal Instructions, the

Governor administers the Colony assisted by an Executive Council

and a Legislative Council. The Executive Council consists of

5 Ex Officio, 1 Official and 8 Nominated Unofficial Members.

Governor is required to consult the Executive Council save where

matters are unimportant or too urgent. The Legislative Council

consists of 4 Ex officio, 8 Official, and 13 Unofficial Members

(all nominated).

The Governor, as President of the Council,

has

CONFIDENTIAL