Dear Seel,
20 A
Foreign Office,
S.W.1.
15th January, 1948.
(201
You will have seen our telegram to Nanking No. 30 about the Kowloon evictions.
Yesterday the Chinese Ambassador came to see Sir Orme Sargent. As the latter is away today in connexion with the signature of the Iraqi Treaty, I am unable to submit the draft telegram of his interview which will therefore have to be held up until tomorrow.
Meanwhile the Chinese Minister has just been to see me again, and we had a somewhat heated interview in which he maintained his view and I mine (mine being that the Chinese really must aivorce the Kowloon incident from the question of jurisdiction in Kowloon city). Dr. Tuan read me out extracts from various telegrams which did nothing to cool the atmosphere and handed me a memorandum, of which I attach a copy.
I said I was prepared to ask the Colonial Office to pass on the substance of the request contained in the memorandum, but, speaking personally, I did not think the Hong Kong Government could interfere with the law. Dr. Tuan asked if the two accused could not be released on bail pending appeal to the Supreme Court (I had told him of the sentence and probable appeal). I said I thought that the solicitors for the accused could apply for bail but that whether it was granted or not would depend on whether the application was opposed by the police. It did not seem to me unlikely that the police might oppose bail for the reason that, if the two accused were released, they might go back to Kowloon city and stir up fresh agitation which would only aggravate the situation and probably lead to further representations by the Chinese Government.
Dr. Tuan said he hoped nevertheless that we should pass on the Chinese Government's request, and in the circumstances I think we should let the Hong Kong Government know of it.
G.F. Seel Esq., C.M.G.
Before /