Hong Kong was permanently ceded to Britain. It was just the New Territories that were leased. As the lease neared its end, it was apparent that the incredible population growth after 1949 meant without the watershed provided by the New Territories, Hong Kong would not have an assured supply of fresh water to sustain the Crown colony. Britain didn’t bother negotiating an extension to the lease and gave up its claim to the entire colony.
“Hong Kong was permanently ceded to Britain. It was just the New Territories that were leased.”
I was in Hong Kong for two weeks and also in Macao and the country side. This was just before Hong Kong went back to China. There was much talk there that the lease of Hong Kong was soon to be over. I talked to business people there and read/saw the news there and it was common knowledge plus the business people told me, companies were quickly moving their money out of Hong Kong before that lease was over.
Interesting. Thanks for making that point. IIRC, it sure wasn’t how they sold in the news at the time.