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Ch. XX
III. RENDITION
RENDITION OF BRITISH CONCESSIONS
OF BRITISH CONCESSIONS IN CHINKIANG AND AMOY AND WEIHAIWEI LEASED TERRITORY
The British Concession at Chinkiang_was granted to the British by virtue of the Sino- British Treaty of Tientsin 1858. On May 24, 1927, after the Nationalist troops had taken possession of Chinkiang, the police admin- istration of the British Concession was form- ally handed over to the Chinese authorities, and since then its control has been virtually In the hands of the Chinese.
Negotiations for its retrocession were initiat- ed in March, 1929, and after due exchange of views November 15, 1929, was set as the date for its formal rendition. On that day Dr. C. T. Wang, on behalf of the National Government, Mr. A. F. Aveling, on behalf of the British Minister, and Mr. W. M. Hewlett, British Consul-General at Nanking, officiated at the ceremony.
The following is the text of the Notes exchanged between Dr. C. T. Wang and Sir Miles Lampson, the British Minister:
Exchange of Notes for the Rendition of the British Concession in Chinkiang
Sir:
I have the honour to inform Your Ex- cellency that His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom agree to return to the National Government of the Republic of China as from November 15 next the area of land known as the British Concession at Chinklang which was leased to them in per- petuity under the agreement of lease of February 23, 1861 and the additional agree ment of April 3, 1861 and that the British Municipal Administration of the said area will be dissolved and the British Municipal regulations repealed as from that date.
I have the honour to request Your Ex- cellency's confirmation of my understanding that the documents of title to the lots of land in the said area issued by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom will be exchanged for Chinese deeds of perpetual lease, a registration fee of one dollar per mow being charged, and that the agreement of lease of February 23, 1861 above referred to, is hereby cancelled as from the date of rendition by mutual consent of our respective Governments.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew 1) Your Excellency the assurance of my highest consideration.
(Signed) A. FRANCIS AVELING, For His Britannic Majesty's Minister. Ilis Excellency,
Dr. C. T. Wang, etc., etc., etc.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nanking.
(Translation) MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, NANKING
October 31, 1929. Ixcellency:
I have the honour to acknowledge the re- ipt of Your Excellency's note of to-day's
te which reads as follows:
"I have the honour to inform Your Ex- cellency that His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom agree to return to the National Government of the Republic of China as from November fifteenth next the area of land known as the British Conces- sion at Chinkiang which was leased to them in perpetuity under the agreement of lease of February 23, 1861 and the additional agreement of April 3, 1861 and that the British Municipal Aminisdistration of the
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said area will be dissolved and the British Municipal regulations repealed as' from that date.
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I have the honour to request Your Ex- cellency's confirmation of my understanding that the documents of title to the lots of land in the said area issued by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom will be exchanged for Chinese deeds of perpetual lease, a registration fee of one dollar per mow being charged, and that the agreement of lease of February 23, 1861 and the additional agreement of April 3, 1861 above referred to, are hereby cancelled as from the date of rendition by mutual con- sent of our respective Governments."
I beg to confirm the correctness of your understanding as stated in paragraph 2 of your note under reply, and desire to convey to Your Excellency an expression of the sincere appreciation of the National Govern- ment of this friendly action on the part of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurance of my highest consideration.
(Signed) CHENGting T. Wang,
His Excellency,
Sir Miles Wedderburn Lampson,
His Britannio Majesty's Minister to China,
Nanking.
(Translation)
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, NANKING
October 31, 1929. Excellency,
With reference to your note of to-day's date in which you were good enough to inform me of the decision of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to return to the National Government of the Republic of China the British Concession at Chinklang, I have the honour to state that pending the promul- gation by the National Government of the Republic of China of a new law governing land taxation throughout China and pending the actual application of that law throughout the Chinklang district the annual land tax to be paid by former holders of British Crown Leases in the Chinkiang district shall remain at the present rate.
I avall myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurance of my highest consideration.
(Signed) CHENGTING T. Wang.
His Excellency,
Sir Miles Wedderburn Lampson,
His Britannic Majesty's Minister to China
Nanking.
Sir,
Nanking, October 31, 1929.
I have the honour to acknowledge the re-. ceipt of Your Excellency's note of to-day's date in which you state that " pending the promulgation by the National Government of the Republic of China of a new law governing land taxation throughout China and pending the actual application of that law throughout the Chinklang district the annual land tax to be paid by former holders of British Crown Leases in the Chinklang district shall remain at the present rate."
I have taken due note of this statement with which His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are in agreement.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurance of my highest consideration.
(Signed) A. FRANCIS AVELING, For His Britannic Majesty's Minister, His Excellency,
Dr. C. T. Wang, etc., etc., eto.
Minister for Foreign Affairs.
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