م
See below
25
They are also inclined to hand back the accumulated
balance of £2,500,000 now in our hands, but think
this can wait (it will need an Act of Parliament,
while releasing future instalments only needs a
Resolution of the House of Commons).
Obviously if all the Foreign Office pro-
posals are approved the last chance of getting any-
thing for Hong Kong University will disappear. We
need not dispute the advisability of abandoning
but
future instalments; it is possible that they might
A
be persuaded to agree to assistance to the University
being given out of the balance now in hand. That
balance is £2,500,000; Sir C. Clementi asked for
£1,400,000 for the University (See despatch of
18.10.26, para. 15, 21 519/26) and the balance might
perhaps be devoted to the Canton loop-line.
The Secretary of State may, there fore,
wish to circulate a memorandum to the Cabinet,
m
referring to his previous memorandum of December
4th. Ouusly. Joe's mens, of 1.2.28 (No. 4 (b), 1926 (21 519/26) and urging the claims of Hong Kong
on the lines of his letter to Lord Cushendon
(No. 24).
(2) The Foreign Office have treated us very
discourteously (if not dishonestly) over this as
they sent us no copies of the telegrams exchanged
with Peking. This matter is of importance to
Hong Kong. The Governor has personally and vigorously
interested himself in it, taking the trouble, during
his leave, to discuss it with Foreign Office repre-
sentatives and with Lord Buxton, and trying to arrange
for