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sido and particular) from General Wedemeyer.
4. It is realised here that any spyroach to Chiang Fai-shek about "civil affairs" at Hong Kong may bring to a head the whole question of the future of Hong Kong. But we do not think we ought to be deterred on that account from approaching Chiang Kai-shok, as no proposed, since if a Chinese offensive in the direction of Hong Kong is definitely projected, the issue cannot very well be avoided anyhow.
5. You will find the main facts about Hong Kong in Section A of the Annex to the memorandum on the present Chine situation which you took with you to TRÜKINAL From that you will see that the Chinese Government have at no time raised the question of the status of Hong Kong as a whole, but that we have agreed that the rendition of the New Temitories might be discussed with them after the war.
6. You may also find it useful to have the enclosed extract from Hansard of November 8th 1944 giving a reply by the present Prime Minister to a question about Hong Kong.
7. Sir. G. Gater's letter, and the present letter are of oarse written on the assumption that we have to accept the position that Hong Kong may be recaptured by Chinese forces and that it is not practicable to stipulate that its recapture shall be a British operation or that British forces shall at all events participate. But even if one of these alternatives were practicable, some sort of understanding with Chiang Kai- shek would presumably be necessary, and in the second of tiese an agreement with him about "civil affairs" might still be required.
Yours over,
(Signed) J.C. Sterndale Bennett.
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