52
the
the vessels to be armed after arrival at Canton
Foreign Office told us (F.2474/34/10 of the 8th March) that the construction of those boats which could only be regarded as vessels of war was open to even grever objection than the assembly of military
aircraft; and with the approval of the Foreign Office
our telegram to the Governor of 6th April on that
matter included the words "The construction in Hong Kong
and the delivery of warships to either of the
countries engaged in the present Sino-Japanese hostilities would be contrary to the policy of His
Majesty's Government". The Governor was therefore
instructed to tell Messrs.Bailey that the export of the gunboats to China ir constructed would be
forbidden during the continuance of hostilities by the use of the Governor's powers under the 1915
Hong Kong Importation and Exportation (rdinance.
5. The objection of the Foreign Office in
that case was stated to be an objection to the
construction in Hong Kong of vessels of war for
China during the present hostilities and was no
doubt