2
Ref.:
CO 537/1649
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
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restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright
(27)
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cms
Ref.:
Mr. Lloyd
During your absence on leave Mr. Dening has replied to your letter to him of the 22nd August 20 agreeing to the proposals in that letter for the preparation of a paper on the subject of the future of Hong Kong, to be used as a basis for discussion, instead of the Foreign Office memorandum which he sent you with his letter of the 12th August (19). Mr. Dening has also agreed to the suggestion that we should first agree a paper as between the Colonial Office and Foreign Office and then bring in the other interested Departments. He suggests that the most appropriate way of doing this would be to lay the joint paper before the Far Eastern (Official) Committee for consideration. This is, I think, satisfactory from our point of view and I will start on a draft of the paper.
You should also see the telegram which the Foreign Office sent to Nanking at (28) on the receipt of my letter to Mr. Kitson (24) on the subject of the Press report on Sir Ralph Stevenson's statement on the future of Hong Kong in Singapore.
It appears from the reply from Nanking that Sir Ralph Stevenson was questioned on the subject, as we had supposed, but that he was certainly not as definite in his reply as the Press report stated. He said that Chiang Kai Shek's view that the question of Hong Kong is not one to quarrel about but to discuss was, as far as he knew, shared by His Majesty's Government.
However, he evidently had some misgivings about the statement which he made as he asks for guidance on how he should reply if he is questioned again on this subject.
I would propose to suggest to the Foreign Office that in reply to Sir Ralph Stevenson's enquiry, he should be informed that for the reasons given in Foreign Office telegram No.694, they feel it advisable that he should adopt a completely noncommittal attitude and should say that he is not in a position to make any statement on the matter.
TX.
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
CO 537/1649
restrictions Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' teaflet
Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright
18.9.46.
N
31
18 at
A.4 Scott (E..o.) (cucl. drop to!.)
24.946
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To 4.4 Seat
27.9.66
33
T.O. (F 13252/113/10) w/ eur/
21.9.46
34
34A Summary of the assurances which have
been given concerning the Future of it. kong
has by Me Marly for submision
2.1046
to the Tio.
3.60446
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