18
(3)
official or even Governor himself if he can spare
the time and considers the matter sufficiently
important to come North.
Whether an official or
the Governor himself comes or not I shall naturally
keep in touch with Hongkong, Shanghai and all con- cerned. My progress reports of the negotiations will go to Hongkong as was done over tariff and as indoed
has been my practice in all matters that directly
concern colony. In the present case, as I cannot go South, I would suggest, if it would help, that Hongkong Chamber of Commerce depute a representative
to meet me at Shanghai when the matter could be
explained to them and Shanghai- community in detall.
But he would have to come at once as I propose to go
ahead if the moment seems favourable as soon as I ceo
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
I am not repeating this telogram anywhere as I
fear that its tenour may sound somewhat contentious
cont
but you may desiro to cause Governor to be reassured
as to my intentions on lines of preceding paragraph
and make the above suggestion to him when intimating
to him my inability to proceed to Hongkong as he
desires or to hold up initiation of negotiations.