TNAG-2709-FCO40-3915-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-and-Par-1993 — Page 141

March 1993

Mr David Congdon MP

House of Commons

LONDON

SW1A OAA

P3/in Gordlad

I submit a draft reply

as requested.

K. Saunder

19/3

Thank you for your secretary's letter of 17 March to the

Private Secretary enclosing one from your constituent,

Miss A F Locke of 30 Freethorpe Close, Highfield Hill,

Upper Norwood, London, SE19 about Hong Kong.

Miss Locke is right in thinking that only part of the present territory of Hong Kong, known as the New Territories, was ceded

to Britain under a 99-year lease dating from 1898. Under two

earlier treaties Hong Kong Island and the tip of the Kowloon

peninsular had been ceded to Britain in perpetuity. But the

conclusions she draws are not correct.

The leased area of Hong Kong was always due to revert to China

in 1997. Since 1949 China has made it quite plain that they

regard not only this area but the whole of Hong Kong as

rightfully Chinese territory, and that they were determined to

reassert sovereignty over it.

The leased area represents 92% of the territory of Hong Kong. The remaining 8% is not economically viable on its own. The destiny of Hong Kong is bound up with the destiny of China.

congdon.SA.JRB