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between Great Britain and China.
(e) having lost Hong Kong to the enemy it is a point of
national honour for us to recover it.
(d) we have a heavy responsibility in respect of Hong Kong
towards all nationis interested in the stability and welfare of
the Far East.
this
The position of Hong Kong as a great centre of population and a
focus of shipping, commercial and other activities give it a
This role special rôle in the furtherance of these objects, which may be even
more important in the coming period of reconstruction than in the
past. We therefore regard it as a national duty not only to
recover the Colony but to restore it to its former state of order
and prosperity.
In short the two aims on which we have at present to
concentrate our attention are recovery and rehabilitation.
FOREIGN OFFICE,
14th April, 1945.
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