104
to use for this purpose any
special or emergency powers which
they may possess. Whether there are
ordinary legal grounds upon which
the ships could be detained appears
to be a matter entirely for the
Government of Hong Kong themselves to
decide.
3.
Should the Chinese authorities
be anxious that the ships in question
should not fall into Japanese hands,
it would appear to be for them to take
the necessary steps, vis-à-vis the
Chinese interests concerned, and if
necessary, to make it worth the
latters' while not to part with them.
I have, etc.
(Sgd.) MALCOLM MacDONALD