TNAG-2790-FCO40-4029-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1993 — Page 100

CODE RAD

Mr Bunten HKD

RESTRICTED.

Reference

HKC Ordi

85

17 NOV 1993

Tük

HONG KONG: CEREMONY TO MARK TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY

1.

I am

Please refer to Dr Howlett's minute of 18 August. afraid I do not have much information to hand on the return of Weihaiwei to China in 1930. Like the New Territories of Hong Kong it was a leased territory, but the difference is that it was not considered a crown colony. Its chief official was the Commissioner who was Sir Reginald Johnston at the time of rendition.

2.

An agreement on the rendition of Weihaiwei was reached on 13 February 1930 and formally signed in Nanjing by the Chinese Foreign Minister CT Wang and the British Minister to China, Sir Miles Lampson. Ratifications were exchanged on 1 October 1930 and the return of Weihaiwei to Chinese control took place the same day. Wang Chia-chen, Chinese Administrative Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Sir Reginald Johnston officiated at the ceremony. am afraid I have no further details of how the ceremony was constituted. There may well have been some RN involvement as the naval base at Weihaiwei was leased to us for a further 30 years under the rendition agreement.

I

3.

There may papers available in the Public Record Office which would give more detail of the ceremonies. I would be happy to take the enquiry further in this way if you so wished.

Flye

RF Wye

Far Eastern Section

Research & Analysis Dept OAB 2/125 210 6219/6216

24 August 1993

RESTRICTED