11
103.
in a P.Q. which has been set down for the 29th by Mr. Rees-Williams. I have suggested an answer on the P.Q. file attached but the last sentence would have to be concurred with the Foreign Office and I have therefore marked this file as urgent.
The Secretary of State stated last Friday that Hong Kong University had been mentioned in the course of conversation between himself and Mr. Bevin and that the latter was very favourably disposed towards our proposals. There seemed to be grounds therefore for suggesting to the Foreign Office that their reply at 101 should be reconsidered and that they should agree to give unqualified support in our joint approach to the Treasury.
In order not to hold up the file I am sending it on without the revised memorandum at 82 referred to in Sir T. Lloyd's minute of 14/11 as I had not been able to do it previously. The revised memorandum is now in preparation and I will send it forward separately as soon as possible.
When the reply to the Foreign Office has issued the file should be recirculated urgently re 94 and the points raised at X in my minute of 11th December.
I submit for conson a draft letter for the Secretary of State's signature.
welon
21.1.47.
I agree generally with Miss Ruston, except that I think we must press for the Hong Kong project to be considered independently of the proposed Peking centre and the proposed extension of British Council activities in China. If we merely ask for equal consideration for the three projects, we cannot very well expect the Foreign Office or the Treasury to agree to the Hong Kong project being considered in advance of the other two, and we must now press for a decision on Hong Kong without delay.
I attach a revised draft seeking agreement to immediate and independent consideration of the Hong Kong project, in which I have endeavoured to put our case as high as possible.
Miss Ruston has now produced a memorandum on the detailed financial proposals which I have attached to this file. If the letter to Mr. Bevin is agreed, I would propose to concert with the China Department of the Foreign Office a comprehensive memorandum, setting out the case for the Hong Kong project, and dealing, inter alia, with the Scarborough Report and the financial proposals, to serve as a basis for the joint approach to the Treasury which I take it will be on Ministerial level.
I am sending the Parliamentary Question referred to in Miss Ruston's minute on separately.
22.1.47.