1:
C.O.
REGISTERED No.
DRAFT AND RECORD COPY
LETTER SENT
110
DATE
Colonial Office,
Downing Street,
35
DRAFT
MR. Paskin
2.8.45
MR.
MR.
To
ENCLOSURES
FURTHER ACTION
And
2nd August, 1945
G 49.
Dead Sterndale Bennett,
The other day Gent had a visit from Mr. Findlay andrew who has had a varied career in China whore, we understand, he has achieved a personal position of great imminence with the local population. Ic said that one of the arguments which he has continuously used in China in defence of our position in Hong Kong is that, On the occasion of the cession of the Island to
us, a considerable sum of money was paid to China, and he feels that amongst those who have the idea that the cession of Hong Kong was part of the unequal treatise", it would go a long way to satisfy them if it could be shown that the traditional Chinese method of sealing a bargain
1.e. by the transfer of money) was done in connection with Hong Kong.
A search of Sayer's and Bitel's Histories of Hong Kong has failed to reveal any reference to such a payment, and we should be grateful if Your Research Department can confirm, from the sources of information available to them, whether in fact such a money payment was made on the dession of Hong Kong.
Yours sincerely,
J. Janin
9. J. Pasuin
J. C. STERNDALE BENNETT, ESQ., C.M.C., M.C.
[3041A] Wt. 12581/346 20m. 5/44 C.N.Ld. 748