Any reply to this letter should be
addressed to the Director, Petroleum Dept.
Telephone: VICTORIA 9310.
Telegrams: MININDUST, Parl, London.
Reference No.:-P.D. 571/1.
NATION
FOR
SCHEME
DISABLED
MEN
49
23
PETROLEUM DEPARTMENT,
(MINES DEPARTMENT,)
DEAN STANLEY STREET,
Ń 20. LB 1333
MILLBANK,
Sir,
C
44
WESTMINSTER, London, S.W.1.
18th February, 1933.
With reference to your letter (92719/32) of the 14th February,
transmitting a copy of a telegram received from the Governor of
Hong Kong respecting the application made by the Soviet Oil Company
Union Petroleum Trust for a sub-lease of a portion of a holding of
Government land in Hong Kong on which to erect an oil tank
installation, I am directed by the Secretary for Mines to state that,
in view of the Governor's statement that he is prepared to refuse
permission to a Soviet Oil Company with Russian employees to hold
land, he concurs in the proposal of Secretary Sir Philip Cunliffe-
Lister to inform the Governor that the action indicated in paragraph
2 of the telegram is approved. It is presumed that if a Chinese
firm were allowed to establish itself for the purpose of handling
Soviet oil the Governor's decision would equally apply to such a
proposal if the Company were under the direct control of the Soviet
and staffed with Russian employees.
Colonial Office,
The Under Secretary of State,
Downing Street,
S.W.1.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
the
Reading
Director