25.
108
FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.
7th February, 1947.
Restricted.
1369/376/G)
(24)
(21)
Dear Mayle,
You will have received a copy of Nanking telegram No.104 of 31st January about the proposed appointment of a political liaison officer at Hong Kong.
it
As stated in my letter of 3rd February, will not be easy to find someone suitable from the Foreign Service, but we are consulting with the Ambassador by telegram about this, and will let you know as soon as we are in a position to make recommendations. I enclose for your information a copy of the telegram we have sent to Sir Ralph Stevenson on this subject.
Meanwhile, I fully agree with the
Governor's recommendation that Colonial Service officers should be enabled and encouraged so far as is possible to establish and maintain contacts with Chinese as well as British officials in China, particularly in Kwang tung. Arrangements for this purpose would, as you say, be a matter for
discussion between the Governor and the Ambassador, but I agree in principle as to the desirability which you suggest, of visits by officers of the Hong Kong Service to Canton (and perhaps also Swatow) and Nanking.
N.L. Mayle, Esq.,
Colonial Office.
I