TRANSI ATION
37
from Ministry of Foreign Affairs to M.B.M.
Dated and despatched 5/5/47
No. Ou 36/9167
t
The Ministry
Praign Affairs wresent their complimente to H.B.M. Embassy and have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Labouchere's letter of 25th April to Dr. George Yah, on the subject of an attack by a muiggling boat on soldiers of the Kwangtung Provincial Peace Preservation Corps, of whom two were captured.
Kinistry have the honour to observe that the two Chinese mentioned in iär, Labouchere's letter are soldiers of the Kwangtung ́rovincial Peace Preservation Corps who were wearing uniforme and badges. Soon after the occurrence of this affair, representatives were despatched jointly by the Office of the Special Delegate for Foreign Affairs for fangtung and angel and the Kungtung Provincial Denon reservation Readquarters to certify to the Hong Yong Goverment the identity of the soldiers). After
Ministry of Foreign Affairs had received a detailed report from the competent authorities, à umoranduan was addressed to the Embassy requesting that the Governor of Hong Tong should be moved to effect the immediate release of the two Chinese soldiers who were under detention. That the Hong Yong Government persist in regarding these chinse regular soldiers, whose identity has more than once been confirmed, as #nigglers, and have sentenced them to terms of imprisonment, while the smugglers go free and unpunished, is a
mtter for profound regret.
According to internatioml orsatios, soldiers of on country cannot be arrested, tried or punished by the government of another country for any actions dom in the course of carrying out their orders. Considering the serious nature of this onse, the Ministry Besire specifically to inform the Embassy that they entiraly refuse to recognise the sentences passed on the Chinese soldiers by the Hong Kong Court, At the same time, it is requested that the Tabassy will take serious note of the onse and will Laoediately telegraph to the Hong Fong Government asking them to take effective action in accordance with the requests put forward the Ministry'a memorandas No. On 8804 of 30th April, A reply is
requested.
(6)
(STAMPED) MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS