t
Mr. Cowell suggested that the feeling of the
meeting was that we should not proceed with the Governor's
proposal on the following grounds:-
(a) The absence of data for calculating the
commercial importance of Hong Kong to British trade,
of the Panse of the New Horatories (6) The fact that from the defence standpoint
for estimating the presents value of an extension
the present lease could be regarded as satisfactory for
time being.
the annÉ ·
The scheme for a thine at the Loan Home fa
in so far
far as it imported an element, I financial
assistance to China,
(c) The fact that the Cabinet's decision
appeared to rule out such a proposal, though it was
possible that opinion might have changed since that
decision was taken.
This was agreed to generally. In reply to a
question Mr. Wardley said that he thought it was hardly
likely that the commercial importance of Hong Kong would
justify the expenditure of such a large sum as would be
necessary, as only some 2% of our trade passed through
Hong Kong. It was agreed that the correspondence should
be sent to the Board of Trade for any observations they
might have to make.
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