क
The
'reassuring statement proposed
in para. 10 the orginal proper drafted for the F.E (0.) C.
Abregands 99,
it is a little
authward sending out 50254337/46 (see hana 2 there of) to In M. Young but Tapee that we have to option; indeed I thank we should have sent it out before.
S
20},
100 To Hong Kong 101 A. & Scott (F.O.)
102 Sour. Hong-Kong 103. D.nl. Maedongall Sq.
Tel 474 See
5/% w/ence. 3Pd. 5/6 (5) on 52377/47 (Hons) Roug) 5/6 -wlence.
Hong Kong.
104 Drog 8 Cabinet atemo..
Mr. Seel
21
47
244·3.47
-
24·3-47
12.4.47 12.414)
I submit at (104) the draft of a Cabinet memorandum on Hong Kong. It is based largely on the revised memorandum prepared for the Far Eastern (Official) Committee. As, however, it will not, like that memorandum, be a joint Foreign Office and Colonial Office effort, I have strengthened it in some respects and included (as Appendix V) a suggested Parliamentary Question and Answer for the re-assuring statement concerning our intentions in regard to Hong Kong, which the paper strongly recommends should be made.
I have sent a copy of this draft out to Mr. MacDougall in my letter (103), bringing him up to date on the developments in this matter, since he was here last December. You will see that I have invited him to let me have any suggestions he may have to offer on the draft.
Presumably, Mr. Bevin will very shortly be back from Moscow and it is not, I think, too soon to circulate this draft for consideration. I suggest that when it has been so considered, it should be sent to Mr. Bevin for his comments under cover of a letter on the lines of the attached draft.
Sir Stafford Cripps and Mr. Dalton are, of course, concerned officially with the future of Hong Kong, mainly from the point of view of British trade in China and the Far East, and Mr. Alexander may also be interested from the defence aspect. Sir Stafford Cripps has also a personal interest in Hong Kong.
The