(F 11771/376/G)
SECRET
Dear Mayle,
(123)answe
FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.
Guad (135)
1st September, 1947.
RECEIVEL
3-SEP 847
C. REGY
125
Kitson having left for India, it falls to me to answer your letter 54145/47 to him of the 26th August about Hong Kong. Yes, certainly send MacDougall a
(Copy of Kitson's letter to Stevenson of July 17th.
197
As regards your first point in your letter under reply, you are probably right as to the main reason for not issuing any statement about the future of Hong Kong. It would, as you say, have caused difficulties in the field of our international relations, particularly those with China, difficulties which, as stated in our Secretary of State's letter to your Secretary of State (F 1544/376/G) of the 25th February, would have been increased by its issue in present circumstances. There is also the reason referred to in the first main paragraph of Mr. Bevin's letter referred to, namely that beginning "As regards the first point you raise".
As regards your second point, there was I agree no particular indication given as to when the matter might be brought up again. The postponement was in fact indefinite.
N.L. Mayle, Esq.,
Colonial Office.
RECEIVED
=6 SEP 1947
C.O. REGY.
As/
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