C.S.0.113/1680/31.
S: BJ. CONFIDENTIAL.
Les parez of such wi No.26
Copy.
My dear Pritchard,
20
9th October, 1940.
In continuation of my letter of 3rd September regarding the proposal to appoint a liaison officer of Japanese nationality to the Kowloon Customs Head Office in Hong Kong I write to say that, while no decision has yet been reached, the Hong Kong Government are aware that the question of control of the Kowloon Customs frontier station: with which the proposal of course is inter-related, may develop into a controversial issue; it seems desirable, therefore, to point out that if thé question of the Kowloon Customs Head Office were to develop in such a manner as to embarrass the Hong Kong Government, this Government might be compelled to request the Customs to withdraw that office from British territory for the duration of the present Sino- Japanese hostilities.
E.A.Pritchard, Esq.
Commissioner Chinese Maritime Customs,
HONG KONG.
Yours sincerely,
(sd) N.L.Smith.
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