NOTES FOR SUPPLEMENTARIES
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THE LEGAL POSITION: HONG KONG TREATIES
Hong Kong consists of:
(a) Hong Kong Island, ceded to Britain by China in perpetuity by
1842 Treaty of Nanking;
(b) Kowloon Peninsula and Stonecutters Island, similarly ceded,
1860, by First Convention of Peking;
(c) New Territories, leased to Britain for 99 years, 1898 by Second
Convention of Peking. This lease expires on 30 June 1997.
New Territories account for approximately 92% of Hong Kong's total land area and more than 50% of population. The fact of lease cannot
be ignored. Neither can fact that ceded areas are not viable
without New Territories.
CHINESE STATEMENTS OF OBJECTIVES AND PRINCIPLES
Regard them as
Chinese do not recognise 3 Hong Kong treaties.
'unequal' and forced on them in period of internal weakness. Previously stated Hong Kong 'problem' would be resolved when time ripe. But began in 1982 to focus more closely. Said publicly they intended to recover sovereignty over whole of Hong Kong in 1997, whilst maintaining its stability and prosperity. Matter of national pride.
Many public statements since talks began in 1982. Chinese views for Hong Kong is that:
Essence of
(a) Sovereignty and right of administration should revert to China
in 1997. Sovereignty and right of administration are indivisible.
(b) Hong Kong to be Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China as
provided for in Chinese constitution.
c) Hong Kong SAR to have a high degree of autonomy in all essential
aspects. Chinese say they will make unilateral statement on Hong Kong in September 1984 if no bilateral agreement by then reached with us.
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