Mr. Bevin, at which it was decided not to proceed
with the submission of the memorandum for the present.
From a note made by Mr. Creech Jones of this conversation
it appears that Mr. Bevin, whilst opposed to a public declaration
of this nature for the present, did not have in mind any prospect.
$
of a future change in Hong Kong's status as a British territory;
and at the same time was aware of the urgency of our position and
urged Mr. Creech Jones to press on as far as possible with the
various outstanding pressing problems. I hope, therefore, that
I may have your agreement to informing Crombie, in reply to his
letter, that although it is not politic to say so publicly at
the present juncture, it is definitely the policy of our two
Departments that the position of H. M. G. in Hong Kong should be
indefinitly
permanently sustained, and that accordingly it is not necessary
to consider the further questions which he mentions as arising in
the event of our having to yield up the Colony.
You know how anxious Mr. Creech Jones is to achieve early
progress in this matter of the University of Hong Kong. At the
same time, an assurance on the above lines, if it is possible to
give it, would help us in pressing forward, in pursuance of the
between
conversation with the two Secretaries of State, as far as we
can with other urgent problems, of which I need only mention
tagqusstion of the airport, and the raising of funds for
renabilitation, and for development in accordance with declared
objectives of Colonial policy.
As this business of Whabilitating the University in thing kong
has been draffung
an to hung I should
fateful for
an undy
upy to this hiller.
: