DXP488 EPA1331
131889 N/L FUTURE 2 PEKING
THEY SAID BRITAIN WAS APPARENTLY NOT INSISTING IT COULD I PRINCIPLE RETAIN CONTROL DF HONG KONG ISLAND AND KOWLOON PENINSULA AFTER THE LEASE ON THE NEW TERRITORIES LEASE RAN OUT, WHILE CHINA NO LONGER DEMANDED THAT BRITAIN YIELDED ON THIS ISSUE BEFORE OTHER PROBLEMS WERE DISCUSSED.
HONG KONG ISLAND, TODAY THE BUSINESS CENTRE OF THE COLONY, WAS CEDED IN PERPETUITY ALONG WITH KOWLOON BY THE CRUMBLING QING EMPIRE UNDER TREATIES IN 1842 AND 1868, WHILE THE NEW TERRITORIES WERE LEASED IN 1898.
ACCORDING TO A REPORT IN THE HONG KONG MAGAZINE, FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER MARGARET THATCHER HAS IN- RECENT MONTHS INDIRECTLY ACKNOWLEDGED PEKING'S SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE TERRITORY, ALTHOUGH THIS HAS BEEN DENIED BY THE BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE.
TALKS ON THE COLONY BEGAN LAST SEPTEMBER WHEN THATCHER VISITED PEKING.
HOWEVER, ANXIETY OVER THE FUTURE HAS CAUSED A SHARP FALL IN THE HONG KONG DOLLAR AND SHARE PRICES. SOME RESIDENTS FERR COMMUNIST RULE HOULD MEAN LOWER LIVING STANDARDS AND L'ESS INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM.
MORE MTRZMWD/JCKE
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.