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that letter.
If this action is taken it seems to
me there are three possible lines of reply
by the Governor. In considering the sdvice
which I have tendered, it may be useful to
take account of these three possibilities.
(1) He may say that he proposes to send
Dr. Sloss to Singapore without reference to
his terms of reference. In this case we can
assume that those terms of reference will be
subject to the conditions specified by Sir
Henry Moore. Even if Dr. Sloss, as seems most
likely, should informally disouse Hong Kong
affairs with the Commission, such advice s8
they tender will not be authoritative and
could not be accepted as a substitute for
advice by a later expert Commission appointed
ad hoc. It would perhaps be advisable to
make this clear both to the Governor of Hong
Kong nd to Mr. Pkckthorn.
(2) The Governor may accept the proposal
that Dr. Sloss should visit Singapore and wak
specifically for leave for him to discuss also
the policy of Hong Kong University. In this
case the warnings suggested above should, I
think, certainly be given.
•
(3) He may definitely propose, as Suo-
stitute, that Mr. Pickthorn or the Commission
should go to Hong Kong. In this case I
think, for reasons stated above, the answer
should be categorically no.
I am in any event today sending a
mere acknowledgement of the receipt of Mr.