On the 10th January, 1948, on the occasion of a further interview with Your Excellency I prossed for the release of the two residents under arrest, and stated that. to avoid further aggravating the situation, no forcible measures in any form be pursued by the Hong Kong Government,
On 12th January, 1946, once again armed Hong Kong police marched into Kowloon Walled City, opened fire on the residents, threw tear gas bombs, pulled down all shelters and left behind casualties. The responsibility for inhumanity : and disregard of friendship and treaty obligations as displayed on this occasion must be borne by the Hong Kong Government,
I hereby lodge with Your Excelency a strong protest against the action of the Hong Kong police on the 12th January, 1948, and I request that pending settlement of this issue between the two Governments, the Hong Kong Government refrains from further police action in Kowloon Walled City,
I am to state that the Chinese Government refuse to recognize as legal any measures taken by the Hong Kong Government in contravention of the Peking Convention 1898.
To Kwok dated 16th January.
Beging:-
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter 37/086 of 13th January, 1948, on the subject of Kowloom City squatters, and in reply to inform you that I (group omitted) your contention that the Government of Hong Kong has in any way acted in contravention of the Peking Convention 1898.
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On the cocasion of interviews to which you refer in opening paragraph of your letter, you will recall that I made it clear that if a different interpretation was put on that Convention by the Government of China, the matter was one for discussion between that Goverment and His Majesty's Government. I derived the impression that you shared this view and appreciated that meanwhile public health must be protected and public order preserved. 45 I informed you in our convergation of 13th January, your failure to make the above position clear to those affected by public health measures necessary in Kowloon City leaves you in my view with
major responsibility for the regrettable incident of the morning of the 12th January,
B
*
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I categorically reject the implication in your letter concerning the conduct of this Government or of its officers. In no case did any police officer fire at the crowd, In this connection I invite your attention to the public statement issued by this Government in the prose on 11th and 13th of this month, In particular I again draw your attention to the fact that prior to 5th January altomative altea were offered free to those required to move. This offor 16 @till open. The police took such actions on the occasion. of the 5th January and 12th January as were necessary to carry out their lawful duty. I am unable to accede to your request that they should do otherwise in future,
bo
I welcome your assurance that your Government attach importance, to the existing friendly relationship between Hong Kong and China, You may rest assured that I will do all in my power to foster that relationship.
Ends,
Copy sent to:-
Foreign Office
Mr. A.L. Scott.