1
cms
Ref.:
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
CO 537/1649
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
if
were settled and out of the way. It was not desirable, it could be avoided, to start on any additional problems, whatever the merits of those problems might be.
6. The Ambassador appeared fully to understand this argument, but he nevertheless gavo ir. Noul-Baker & little indication of what his Governmont seems to have in mind. He said that of course the talks, if they began, would not bo at all like the Egyptian negotiations. They would be of the friendliest kind; and he for his part believed that they could lead to an agreement satisfactory to both sides. The Hong Kong question had a great "sentimental" appeal in China, but on the practical side of the matter, i.e. busi- ness, defence, etc., he was sure that arrangements could be made which would give us everything we wanted. The Minister
did not pursue this line of thought, but he gathered that what the Ambassador had in mind was some kind of arrangement under which nominal sovereignty over Hong Kong would pass to China, while in practice we would for any purposes retain control. In any case, the Ambassador appcared. to understand that he and his Government would do well not to raise the question again at the present.
I am,
etc.,
(For the Secretary of State)
00063
1
cms
Ref.:
CO 537/1649
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
1
Ins
N
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
Ins
N