run in the city of Kowloon if Chinese jurisdiction were
exercised there and that, for example, the laws regarding
penalties for traffic in heroin and opium would be
enforced.
These involved the death penalty in many cases,
and it seemed probable that great exception by public
opinion in this country would be taken to such law being
enforced within the boundaries of a British colony.
Mr. Cowell asked what the Foreign Office hoped
to gain from such a concession to China compared with
what the Colonial Government would lose.
Mr. Orde said it was part of the policy of
gaining Chinese goodwill which the British trading
community in China had confessed to be of considerable
advantage to British trade there.
Mr. Cowell said that in any case the prestige
which we might lose by giving up jurisdiction in Kowloon
city might have a damaging rather than a favourable
effect on the British position in China. He asked
Lieutenant Colonel Whiteley whether Chinese jurisdiction
in Kowloon would be consistent with the military
requirements for the defence of Hong Kong.
Lieutenant Colonel Whiteley said that they had
received from the General Officer Commanding, China
Command, a list of military safeguards required. These
included