TNAG-0752-FCO40-956-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 37

CODE 13-7}

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference

Mr Thompson

Hong Kong and General Department

HKK 040/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY MO. 51 14 AUG 1978

THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG

DESK OFFICER INDEX

PA

REG #TRY Action Taten

Not

65A

1. As promised in paragraph 2 of my minute of 19 July I have checked Research Department's files to see whether the Law Officers have ever been consulted in the past on the subject of the possible extension of under leases in the New Territories beyond 1 July 1997. In the event, I could find no record of such a step ever having been taken.

2.

I am, however, attaching a copy of an article by Dick Wilson entitled "New Thoughts on the Future of Hong Kong" which appeared in "Pacific Community" in July 1977 and which contains (pages 595-597) an interesting summary of certain precedents for the return of sovereignty of territory conceded by China to the UK, with particular reference to the Convention for the Rendition of Weihaiwei negotiated in 1930.

24 July 1978

USHFORD

вива

OM O'Brien

Far Eastern Section Research Department

По виж No Rustyfd.

with reference

to

July, I wonder

my Whether thes

minte of 244

casz

كامو

light

possible

socutionis

CONFIDENTIAL