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With th
pliments of vir
for Dominic
2 1 AUG 1945)
F5850/1147G
(This is an unparaphrased version of a Secret cypher message and unless it is marked O.T.P. (One Time Pad) the text must first be paraphrased if it is essential to communicate it to persons outside British and United States Government Services.)
OUTWARD TELEGRAM 5623
W. R. 222/5/ CYPHER (TYFEK)
45
FROM:
D.0.
TO:
CANADA
AUSTRALIA
NEW ZEALAND
SOUTH AFRICA
24
1945
(H.C.)
ACTING H.C.)
H.C.
(H.C.
(Sent 2.40 p.m. 20th Auge, 1945.)
THMEDIATE
Z. No. 67 SECRET.
N.T.
My telegram 19th August D. No. 1504 Hong Kong.
It may be useful for you to know that we are endeavouring to play down sensational stories of a race between ourselves and the Chiness to receive Japanese surrender in Hong Kong and are indicating in reply to press enquiries that there is no foundation for suggestion that a serious Sino-British political issue has been raised. We underst and the Chinese Embassy in London is adopting similar attitude.
2. Line we are taking is that storica no doubt arias from the fact that Chiang Kai-shsk is the Supreme Allied Commander in the China Theatre. But Hong Kong is a British colony and it is natural that it should be renccupied by the forces of the sovereign pover: Whole procedure for the rapid acceptance of the Japanera surrender a key points of which Hong Kong. 18 one la being elaborated in consultation between all concerned within the framework of a general plan under the Supreme Commander, General MacArthur.
Jopy toz-
F.O. C:0,
ar. J.C. 3Sterndale-Bennett Mr. G.E.4. Gent
SPECIAL
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