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ordinary munitions to belligerents we might prejudice
our position in the matter of objecting to neutral
embargoes on the export of arms where such embargoes
were likely to hit us.
4. On balance, however, it seemed to us that the
overriding consideration in reaching a decision on the
question put to you by Sir Geoffrey Northcote must be
the very special geographical position of Hong Kong,
which we felt would justify an exceptional departure
from our usual policy, while providing an effective
answer to any criticisms which might be levelled at
us.
5.
In this connexion, it is, I think certain that
as the hinterland of Hong Kong is occupied by the
Japanese forces while the coast of China is "pacifically"
blockaded by the Japanese navy, if explosives were to be
exported from Hong Kong for the use of the Chinese Government, they would either have to be smuggled overland or carried
by...