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at any given time. A difficult political situation
in Europe, for instance, must cause His Majesty's
Government to adopt an attitude of greater caution in
the Far East, in order that they should not become
involved in difficulties in two hemispheres at the same
time. This fact has its inevitable repercussion on
the position of Hong Kong, and on the advice we give
the Colonial Government, though there may be no
change in the local circumstances to account for the
altered attitude.
4. The policy of the Hong Kong authorities in
dealing with the problems arising out of the conflict
must therefore depend to some extent on the circumstances
of the moment and it is not possible to give in
advance more definite instructions covering all
possible contingencies.
5. If a situation occurs where immediate action
is required the Governor will doubtless do his best
to reconcile the instructions already given with the
general policy outlined in paragraph 3 above.
Yours sincerely,
(Sgd.) R.
Howe.
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