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(F 3753/2906/10).
Sir,
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OUT FILE
FOREIGN OFFICE, S. W. 1.
27th April, 1939.
145
With reference to Colonial Office letter
No.53838/11/39 of the 17th April regarding the
clearance of certain Chinese vessels from Hong Kong,
I am directed by Viscount Halifax to inform you that
in his opinion the Hong Kong authorities have already
done all that can reasonably be expected of them in
the matter of making it difficult for these ships to
leave Hong Kong waters.
2. Lord Halifax is advised that it would not be
possible on, so to speak, "public" grounds, to
request the Hong Kong authorities to use for this
purpose any special or emergency powers which they may
possess. Whether there are ordinary legal grounds
upon which the ships could be detained appears to
be a matter entirely for the Government of Hong Kong
themselves to decide.
3.
If the Chinese authorities are anxious that
these ships should not fall into Japanese hands, it
is rather for them to take the necessary steps vis-à-vis
the Chinese interests concerned, and if necessary, to
make it worth the latters' while not to part with
them.
4.
A copy of this letter is being sent to the
Board of Trade.
The Under-Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.
I am,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
(Sd.) N. B. RONALD,
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