2.
70
I
As regards your second question only Hongkong authorities and their experts can say extent to which a solution on lines of original draft will be beneficial to the Colony and I am not prepared to attempt a reply. have never liked idea of assimilating status of Hongkong to that of a Chinese treaty port for fear of promoting or facilitating Chinese irridentist aspirations and on this account I should prefer some other solution of smuggling problem. But if gain of securing a settlement is com- mensurate with this inherent risk (which I regard as crux of whole question and on which again Hongkong authorities are in a better position that I am to express opinion)
then let us take it.
As regards your third question I adhere to view that Article V was and remains a mistake and should be dropped. Generally speaking I am not at present unduly alarmed at prospect of failure to arrive at settlement though I should naturally much prefer that one should be reached. In the meantime possibility of finding an
alternative solution is being explored.
Finally I greɛ ly deprecate being in any way "rushed" into action by the somewhat peculiar and unpleasant methods of Mr. (Maze) it is just as much to China's
interest as ours to come to some workable agreement.
Addressed to Foreign Office No. 542, repeated to
Hongkong and Mr. Ingram.