FO371-46257 — Page 161

Page 161

Exta F 8942

(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERLY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJEST26 RM945),

SECRET

GEN. 77/47

COPY NO

0 34

144

23RD OCTOBER, 1945

CABINET

FAR EASTERN CIVIL PLANNING UNIT

1.

THE STATUS OF HONG KONG

(Previous Reference:

Gen. 77/31 (Annexes)

The Colony of Hong Kong comprises three areas:·

(a) The island of Hong Kong, coded outright to

Great Britain by the Nanking Treaty of 1842.

(b) Part of the Kowloon Peninsula opposite Hong

Kong, ceded outright by the Peking Convention of 1860.

(c) The New Territorios, leased for 99 years by

the Peking Convention of 1898. They include part of the mainland and a number of islands in the vicinity, of a total area of 360 square miles.

2. The reason for the lease of the New Territories, as stated in the preamble to the Convention, was that an extension of Hong Kong territory was necessary for the proper defence and protection of the colony. What has now become an equally important factor is that the main water supply of Hong Kong is in the New Territories. Into this area also now extend the docks and the streets and buildings of Kowloon. The only airport of the colony (Kai Tak) is in the New Territories. It is not suited to the type of aircraft that will in future make use of it and another airport will have to be constructed further afield in the New Territories.

3. In the course of the negotiations which preceded the abolition of extra-territoriality in China, the Chinese Government made a request for the return of the New Territories. His Majesty's Government refused to consider this question in connection with extra- territoriality, but agreed that it might be discussed with the Chinese Government after the war.

4.

The most recent statement of Chinese policy in regard. to Hong Kong was contained in the following passage from a speech by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek on the 24th August:-

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