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CYPHER TELEGRAM from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to
the Governor of Hong Kong.
my 21 Feb. 27
داران
(Seat 7.40 p.m. lcth February, 1927).
Your telegram 19th January 1 fully appreciate
that the maintenance of the new Territories under British
administration is vital to the security of Long Kong and i
sympathise with your anxiety that they should we made a
permanent part of the Colony at the earliest opportunity. i am afraid however that it would be exceedingly dangerous
to call attention to the lease in view of the strength
which the present movement for the restoration of Chinese
sovereign rights has now attained. it is scarcely possicle
that any responsible Chinese authority could be induced
in present circumstances to enter into any agreement which
provided for a cession of territory to a foreign Power and
to show the Chinese that we were anxious about the ex
Territories when it is clearly for us to assume that the lease will run its normal course would be to expose a
weakness which they would not be slow to exploit aud magnt well lead to campaign for the rendition, not only of tae
leased area but even of the Colony itself. oreover even
ll this were not so the imposition el any condition wnich
would impede za unuerstanding with the Nationalists would
only serve to defeat your own ends. in View of these
considerations i mave come to te conclusion after
discussion with tue Secretary of State for soreign Affairs
tuat for the present the matter suould be allowed to lie
doranat. Your third proposal must of course be considered
afresh if and when the contingency arises,
JERRY.
¿t;