EXTRACT FROM MINUTES OF INTER-DEPARTMENTAL LIAISON MEETING CALLED BY M.1.2. ON 20TH MAY, 1948,
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SECRET
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8.
HONGKONG
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班
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Mr. Sidebotham of the Colonial Office, who has recently visited Hongkong with Lord Listowel spoke on the following:-
Border, New Territories and Kwangtung
(a) The Hongkong Government is aware of the
difficulty of keeping refugees from crossing into the new Territories in large numbers when the situation in China becomes too un- comfortable. If there is a decided increase in Communist influence South of the Yangtze, Hongkong may have to rely on T.V. Soong's territory (Kwangtung) to be a buffer against what may be a very heavy influx of refugees.
(b) The Hongkong Government feel that it is un- desirable to take overt steps at present to meet a possible influx of refugees, but have plans to bring water to an old airfield site at Kamtin where temporary accommodation might
The be arranged for some 250,000 refugees. Colonial Office has asked for details of the plans in case the Communists cross the Yangtze in force. Following discussion of the Communist Southward move it was generally agreed that there were no signs of a Communist crossing of the Yangtze in force in the near future. In fact, the disposition of Communist Forces in Central China is such that a crossing
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