Draft
7. Roges 27/8
In Howard es In lowell
29.
too 26
Note of a Meeting held in the Colonial Office
on the 26th August.
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129
to F.O
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Copy
Present:
Mr. H. R. Cowell, C.M.G. (Chairman) Colonial Office
Sir J. F. Brenan, K.C.M.G.
Mr. D. J. Wardley, M.C.
Mr. E. G. Compton
Captain G. K. Bourne
Major G.W.M. Grover, R.N.
Mr. C. G. Jarrett
Wing Commander R.M.Foster, D.F.C.
Foreign Office
Treasury
War Office
Admiralty
Air Ministry
Mr. F. J. Howard, O.B.E.
Mr. P. Rogers
Colonial Office
Mr. Cowell opened the meeting by saying that
the question of negotiating with the Chinese Government
for the sale to the British Government of the New
Territories of Hong Kong had been raised some years ago
by Sir William Peel, but it had then been decided that the
time was not opportune for such an approach to be made.
They had now to consider whether the present offered a
more favourable opportunity. It was obvious that any
such negotiations would arouse very great opposition in
Japan, while there was the possibility that the present
conflict might end in the break-up of the present Chinese
Government and the establishment of a puppet Government
there under Japanese control, which would not recognise
any agreement entered into with the present Chinese
Government.
from:
The New Territories were important to Hong Kong
(a)