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security matters. While he is in China, we would very much like him to be given the opportunity of seeing the Ambassador and putting this problem to him with a view to seeking his advice as to the best methods of securing the desired assurance from the Chinese Authorities.
MacDougall has come back impressed with another problem. It is that of providing some centre and focus point for Hong Kong Chinese personnel at present in China. What he would like to have is a small branch office of the Hong Kong Planning Unit manned in the fist instance by one or two civilians of the Unit with the object of contacting, earmarking and ultimately engaging or re-engaging suitable Chinese personnel for duty in Hong Kong. It is thought that if the idea met with approval this branch office might be attached to the Embassy on the lines of the existing Accounts Office. The impression MacDougall has received from his conversations and contacts in China is that generally speaking the Chinese assume that we intend to return to Hong Kong and that we are making the necessary preparations. It is hoped, therefore, that the proposal to establish a small office such as that described would not in itself raise any difficulty with the Chinese Government. If you agree, we should like Sansom to mention this project to the Ambassador also in order if possible to obtain his agreement to it.
I enclose the draft of a personal telegram from MacDougall to Sansom in India which, if you are in general agreement with the proposals it contains, I should like to put up for the approval of my Secretary of State. As Sansom will not be long in India, I should be grateful for an early reply to this letter.
Yours sincerely,
Gilrint
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14th April, 1945.