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ANNEX
DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, CANADA
Aide-mémoire: Hong Kong
1
The memorandum of 28th May, 1949, and related papers setting forth the considerations which impelled the United Kingdom Government to decide to send reinforcements to Hong Kong, in order to be able to deal with any probable attack by the Chinese Communists, have been studied carefully.
The Canadian Government fully appreciates the reasons why the United Kingdom Government, under present circumstances, has determined to make of Hong Kong a point where it will demonstrate its intention to resist Communist aggression in the Far East. The threat of Communist domination over all South-East Asia carries far-reaching implications for all free countries. It is to be hoped that this decision of the United Kingdom Government to defend Hong Kong will strengthen the will of all the threatened countries of East Asia. to resist Communist infiltration or overt aggression.
It is noted from the papers prepared for the consideration of the United Kingdom Government that emphasis is placed, in preparing for the defence of Hong Kong, on not unduly provoking Chinese reaction. The Canadian Govern- ment is in sympathy with this point of view. An aspect of this question is the possibility that the Communists might make use of the Hong Kong issue to provoke anti-British and anti-foreign agitation throughout China, which might well jeopardise the safety and welfare of all foreign nationals there.
It is noted further that, should the Chinese Communists attack Hong Kong, the United Kingdom Government would draw this action to the attention of the Security Council of the United Nations. In such circumstances the Canadian Government would lend its full support to the United Kingdom Government in the Security Council.
It is realised, however, that in the United Nations the Soviet bloc may endeavour to fit the Hong Kong issue into the framework of a general contention that the Western Powers are denying to the inhabitants of Asiatic territories the right of self-determination and are standing in the way of the progress of Asiatic countries to full freedom and independence. The Canadian Government, mindful of the danger that this type of propaganda may meet with some success, particu- larly in South-East Asia, would be glad to learn from the United Kingdom Government what line it is considering taking in the United Nations to counter the possible use of the Hong Kong issue by the Soviet bloc for propaganda purposes.
Ottawa, 2nd September, 1949.
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