CONFIDENTIAL
The Future of Hong Kong
15.
The historical position is that in 1841 by the Treaty
of Nanking, Hong Kong Island was ceded to Britain in perpetuity.
In 1860 by the Convention of Peking the Kowloon peninsula was
likewise ceded. The remainder and by far the greatest land
area of the present territory of the Colony of Hong Kong was
leased to Britain for 99 years by the Second Convention of
Peking in 1898. This is the area known as the New Territories.
The New Territories lease therefore expires in 1997. The Chinese
position, however, is that the whole of Hong Kong is a part of
China and that Hong Kong is only temporarily under British
administration. They say that the Treaties concerned are
"unequal treaties" imposed by an Imperialist power on a weak
and divided China in the 19th century. They have, however,
given assurances in private since the exchange of Ambassadors
that they are for the moment content with the status quo. It is
important for the preservation of confidence in Hong Kong that
people should not be led to think that there is any serious
question of early reversion to China.
16.
The Overseas Labour Adviser, Gibraltar and General
Department, Far Eastern Department and Financial Relations
Department have been consulted as appropriate and agree.
We have also consulted the Governor of Hong Kong and HM Ambassador
Peking on the proposed supplementaries and have taken their
advice into account in the drafts which are now submitted.
21 March 1974 cc
Sir D Watson
OLA
GGD
FED
& FRD
De24
A C Stuart
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.