(F 8392/376/10)
CONFIDENTIAL.
Dear Maryle.
RECEIVEL
5-JUL1947
C. O. REGY
FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W. 1.
3rd July 1947.
25
(17)
I am sorry we have been so long in answering your letter 54179/47 of the 8th May about the activities of the Kuomintang in Hong Kong, but we have been waiting for Nanking despatch No. 195 (which was referred to in our Ambassador's telegram No.545 of 29th May). This despatch has not yet arrived, but I understand that you would like our views before Sir Alexander Grantham leaves to take up his post at Hong Kong.
2.
(244)
(244)
(Don 54,395/45
You will, of course, have by now received copies of Nanking telegrams 545 of 29th May and 569 of the 4th. June, and Nanking semi-official despatches Nos. 399 of the 29th May (12) m
and 413 of the 30th May on the same subject and on the 539 activities of General Li Chai-sum.
3.
(12A), 54,395141.
Our views in the matter are that, whatever the theoretical position may be regarding the termination of one-party government in China, the fact remains that for all practical purposes the Kuomintang is still the Government party, and any such drastic action as expulsion of the Kuomintang from Hong Kong would almost certainly lead to retaliatory measures against the Colony by the Chinese Government. It might also have repercussions elsewhere and encourage embarrassing demands, e.g. for the suppression of the Chinese Communist representative's office in London, regarding whose existence the Chinese Embassy have already expressed to us some adverse comment.
4.
We think therefore that the Government of Hong Kong should confine themselves for the present, and until we see more clearly how the Chinese internal situation is going to develop, to surveillance and the possible expulsion
N.L. Mayle, Esq.,
Colonial Office.
/of/