COPY
(F 2593/221/10)
NO DISTRIBUTION.
Decode and Decypher. Sir H. Knatchbull-Hugessen (Nanking)
D.
R.
No.130.
3rd May 1937.
(Via W/T.) 3rd May, 1937.
10.00 p.m.,3rd May, 1937.
(Beginning of "R").
Addressed to Hongkong No.21 of 3rd May.
My telegram No.126 to the Foreign Office.
I have now received reply from Vice Minister for Foreign
Affairs.
After expressing regret that Hongkong authorities
should have lost sight of juridical aspect of the question the
letter continued as follows:-
Begins.
I am inclined to think in dealing with matters of this
kind it is always advantageous to use a certain amount of tact
and discretion and especially to take into consideration
feeling of local inhabitants so as to avoid any unpleasant
situation that may otherwise arise. Quite aside from and
without prejudice to the question of jurisdiction over Kowloon
citizens I therefore request you to be so good as to advise
Hongkong authorities to defer full prosecution of their plan
indefinitely and give more careful and thorough consideration
to the matter in the light of views expressed by all parties
concerned.
Ends.
(End of "R").
I propose to reply that completion of the scheme cannot
be/