TNAG-0670-FCO40-819-Policy-of-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-land-in-New-Territories-1977 — Page 9

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Ref.: MT:4419:C IV

Annex

The Land "Problem" in the New Territories

Historical Background

The New Territories were leased to Great

Britain by a Convention signed at Peking on 9th June 1893.

This Convention states that the extension of Hong Kong was

"necessary for the proper defence and protection of the

Colony, and provides among other things that:

2.

"there will be no expropriation or expulsion of

the inhabitants of the district included within

the extension, and that if land is required for

public offices, fortifications or the like

official purposes, it shall be bought at a fair

price."

In the period following the Convention,

statements were made locally in Hong Kong promising that

#landed interests would be safeguarded and that "usages

and good customs" would not be interfered with.

3.

In 1900 all land in the New Territories was

declared to be the property of the Crown (New Territories

(Land Court) Ordinance). A survey was then carried out

to find out what land was privately owned, to measure it

and to establish ownership.

Thereafter, in 1905, grants

CONFIDENTIAL

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