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(11) WE COULD ALSO IMP.SE A NEW CLOSURE ORDER ON THE SCHOOL
BUILDING EFFECTIVE FROM 15TH AUGUST. TO DO SO WOULD BE A DUBIOUS
ACTION LEGALLY SINCE OBVIOUSLY NOTHING HAS HAPPENED AT THE SCHOOL
SINCE THE BUILDING WAS LAST CLOSED TO JUSTIFY IT. MOREOVER,
IT WOULD BE JUST AS OFFENSIVE TO THE COMMUNISTS AS DEFEGISTRATION.
(111) WE HAVE WORKMEN IN THE BUILDING TIDYING THE PLACE UP. AND THEY COULD PERHAPS WORK A BIT SLOWLY TO HAMPER RE-OCCUPATION. BUT I DOUBT IF THIS STRATAGEN WOULD HAVE MUCH SUCCESS. I HAVE
BEEN UNABLE TO THINK OF ANY OTHER.
3. WE HAVE CONSIDERED THE SITUATION YOUR TELEGRAM ENVISAGES CAREFULLY HERE AND MY CONCLUSION WAS, AND REMAINS, THAT IF HOPSON DOES NOT ARRIVE ON 14TH AUGUST IT WOULDSTILL BE BEST TO PROCEED WITH
DEREGISTRATION ON THAT DAY ONCE IT IS CLEAR HE IS NOT COMING. NOT
TO DO SO PUTS US ON A VERY SLIPPERY PATH. WE WILL, HOWEVER,
NATURALLY WAIT UNTIL IT IS CERTAIN HE HAS BEEN DELAYED BEFORE
TAKING ANY ACTION.
FO PLEASE PASS IMMEDIATE PEKING.
SIR D. TRENCH
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED
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