which has been prepared in the Department. It is in process of being submitted to my Secretary of State, but I am sending it to you at this stage to avoid having to ask you to deal with it in a matter of hours. You will see that the draft is based on the assumption that (a) the Hong Kong authorities will adopt the proposal in regard to the franchise qualifications in our telegram No.875, and (b) my Secretary of State will feel able to accept on the other outstanding questions Sir Mark Young's advice in his telegram No.817. In particular, paragraph 3(c) of the draft despatch may require some amendment in the light of the reply to paragraph 3 of our telegram to Hong Kong No.875.
It may assist you in the consideration of this draft to have at the same time copies of two draft telegrams to the Acting Governor of Hong Kong which are only awaiting my Secretary of State's authorisation before they are despatched. drafts are marked 'B' and 'C'.
These
If any substantial modifications arise in that draft despatch' as a result of its submission to my Secretary of State, I will let you know. Meanwhile, I should be grateful if you would let me know as soon as possible whether you have any comments on its terms.
Sir Mark Young is due to arrive in this country by June 16th and we are most anxious to have the draft despatch ready in its final form by the time he arrives here, so that as soon as he has had an opportunity of seeing it, it can be sent off officially.
I am writing similarly to Helsby, of the
Treasury.
Yours sincerely
Sąd N. L. Rowe.