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F4382/964
Aug. 7. 1947
American Opinion regarding Hong Kong.
1.
Americans who are familiar with Far Eastern
questions generally hold the view that Hong Kong and the
leased territories should be ceded to China soon after
reoccupation by United Nations forces. Most of them think
that His Majesty's Government should announce forthwith
their intention to return Hong Kong to China.
that, whatever may be the technical position of Hong Kong,
0
They argue
it is in fact analagous to the former Settlements or
Concessions in China which have been abolished with the
surrender of extraterritorial rights. They say that, if
Great Britain is earnest in her intentions to treat China
on a basis of full equality, it is incumbent upon her to
remove this grievance, both as a matter of justice and as
an essential step in improving Anglo-Chinese relations, which will be unsatisfactory as long as Hong Kong remains
in other than Chinese hands.
2.
Americans who have no special knowledge of the
Far East naturally know and care very little about Hong Kong,
and it cannot be said that there is at present any definite
public opinion on the matter. But if at any time the
question of the future of Hong Kong were raised in the
United States it is pretty certain that the American public, taking a sentimental view of China, and being generally critical of colonial rule, would side against Great Britain
and with China.
3.
Official opinion in the United States does not
necessarily coincide with public opinion in regard to the
future of Hong Kong. There is evidence that some officials
in /
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