No. 299 (7252/1082/47)
Copied to:-
Foreign office No. 436
Hong Kong No. 117
30
Bis Britannic Majesty's Embassy prescut their compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and have the hon ur to acknowledge receipt of the Ministry's memorandum No. ou 36/11137 of the 28th May regarding the case of the conviction in the Hong Kong Courts of two Chinese members of the Kwangtung Provincial "cace Freservation Corps found guilty of using arms with violent intent and without licences.
His Majesty's Embassy duly appreciate that the two convicted persons have been recognised by the Chinese authorities as members of the Chinese military forces. Whereas, however, jurisdiction over Chinese soldiers in Hong Kong was handed over to the Chinese authorities during the war period as an emergency measure for special purposes under an informal Agreement between the British and Chinese authorities, the British authorities gave notice of the termination of this Agreement on the 27th February of this year, whereupon the position reverted to normal and Chinese Service personnel once again became subject to the jurisdiction of the Courts of the Island.
Copies of letters addressed by His Majesty's Consul-General in Canton to General Chang Fa-kwei and the Special Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announcing the termination of the Agreement are enclosed by way of confirmation. A copy of a letter which gir Mark Young wrote to General Lo Cho-ying which has a bearing on this aspect of the matter is also attached for the Ministry's information.
The Embassy are at the same time communi cating to the Government of Hong Kong a copy of the Ministry's memorandum under reference.
BRITISH EMBASSY,
MANKIN),
4th June, 1947.
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