or expedient to make preparations in
advance so that you would be in a position
to deal with this emergency if it should
arise.
In this connection, you may like to
know that our Legal Advisers are now
engaged on an examination of the points.
submitted in MacDougall's confidential
letter No. 1/1166/470 of the 4th March
with a view to reaching a definite conclusion
with the Foreign Office on the vexed
question of the alleged right of Chinese
to enter Hong Kong. The Board of Trade
have also been reminded of the importance
of this issue in relation to the proposals
for a new commercial treaty with China.
Your Incerty
JB
Linebuttan
(No. 1 on 54064/48)