TNAG-0848-FCO40-1058-Future-of-Hong-Kong-New-Territories-leases-1979 — Page 63

DRAFT MEMORANDUM

CONFIDENTIAL

DSR 11C

SECTION III

a.

1.

CHINESE POLICY ON SPECIFIC ISSUES RELATED TO HONG KONG

Questions concerning the Lease of the New Territories, and its termination in 1997

The New Territories form the largest part of the territory of

Hong Kong. Under the terms of the Convention for the Extension of

Hong Kong, 9 June 1898, the area known as the New Territories was leased

from China for a period of 99 years. The remainder of Hong Kong had been

ceded in treaties of 1842 and 1860. The Chinese People's Government have

never acknowledged any of the nineteenth century treaties relating to

Hong Kong and regard the entire Colony as Chinese territory occupied by

Britain. They will not necessarily expect the New Territories to be

returned to China when the lease expires in 1997, but appear to recognise

that the futures of the New Territories and the ceded area of Hong Kong

are mutually dependent.

2. On the other hand, a number of statements made by Chinese officials

since 1949 have included specific references to the leased area, dis-

tinguishing between "Hong Kong" and "Kowloon" (the New Territories) but

claiming both as Chinese territory. A number of other Chinese sources

also draw the distinction between leased and ceded territory. There is

sufficient evidence to suggest that the year 1997 has been regarded by

the Chinese as a date of at least some significance.

3. A text-book "Geography of New China" (published in Shanghai in

August 1953) observed :

"Hong Kong was seized by Great Britain after the Opium War in 1842. The southern portion of the Kowloon Peninsula was forcibly ceded to Great Britain in 1860 the northern portion was leased by force to Great Britain in 1898 for 99 years. After the victory of the last war, all the leased territories of our country have been returned excepting Kowloon."

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CONFIDENTIAL

Dd 0532000 400 M 5/78 HMSO Bracknell