Oode
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES
20
JAI
XL XI
1948
I I
II I
ΠΛ
A
C
"FOR REGISTRATION
CEIVED
IN
REGIST
FROM HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)
D. 17th January, 1948. R. 17th
14.20 hrs.
No. 65 Confidential.
49
My telegram No. 50,
11
Kowloon City.
and myself,
Following is text of letters exchanged by T. W. Kwok
From Kwok dated 13th January, Begine,
Since the issue by Hong Kong authorities of a notice last November regarding demolition of structures within Kowl con Walled City, I have called on Your Excellency on 29th November, the 2nd December, the 17th December and 23rd December, 1947, and on each occasion reminded Your Excellency that on the basis of the Peking Convention 1898, the Chinese Government have never waived jurisdiction over Kowloon Walled City, and that in a statement issued in September, 1946, both by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by this office, the stand of the Chinese Government regarding this matter has been clearly defined, At the same time, on more then one occasion during the above mentioned interviews, I have stated that the Chinese government attach importance to the maintenance and furthering of the existing Friendly relationship between the British and Chinese and also between the Hong Kong Government and Chinese residente here and that we invite the Hong Kong Government to adopt the same view. I also stated that it would be gegacious for the Hong Kong Government not to pursue any forcible measures which may affect an amicable settlement of this iosum,
Notwithstanding my representations, in the early hours of the 5th January, 1948, armed Hong Kong polico suddenly marched into Kowloon Walled City, forcibly demolished structures there and arrested two of the residents, No provision was made by the Hong Kong Government for necessary relief, Following this incident, I have again called on Your Excellency on the 7th January, 1948, lodged a strong protest against this action, reserved all rights to claims for indemnities and demanded :-
(1) that the Hong Kong Government assumes full responsibility for the forcible demolition of the structures within Kowloon Walled City;
(2) that the Hong Kong Government provides immediate relief for the homeless even from humanitarian point of view;
(3) that the Hong Kong Government effects an immediate release of the two residents arrested, namely, Chu Pui-Tong and Lau (?Togo)-Pu; and
(4) that the Hong Kong Government restores as an initial step those structures which were on land substantiated by deed,