Wt. 23364/665. 8/47. 50,000. S. & S. Ltd.
54436/48
2
Mr. Paskin.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
13.5.48.
SuBhot_14/7
JECRET.
DRAFT. LETTER
15/2
Permt. U.S. of S.
Parly. U.S. Si
Secretary of State:
Your Reference.........
SIR ALEXANDER GRANTHAM, KCMG,
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONG KONG.
For Mr. Sidebotham's signature.
FURTHER ACTION. Copy to be placed on
54064/48
While I was in Hong Kong you
mentioned to me that consideration was
being given to the problem with which you
would be faced in the event of the
influx into Hong Kong of hordes of Chinese
refugees which might be expected in the
event of the collapse of the Nanking
Government. I gathered that while
various possible courses were under consideration (e.g. the erection of
temporary accommodation on the abandoned
airfield at Kam Tin, and the provision of a water supply) your general conclusion
was that it would be most undesirable to
take any overt action at the present time.
.
Since my return I have (as you are
aware) now become officially concerned with the affairs of Hong Kong, and I
find that Ministers here have expressed
concern that adequate preparations
should be made to meet such a contingency. We should therefore be grateful if you
could let us have a report on the measures
which you have in mind and the extent to which you feel that it would be possible
/or