No. 88 (269/1080/1,8)
2095
BRITISH EMBASSY,
NANKING,
23rd February, 18.
According to information which has just reached
me from the Hong Kong Government a representative of the Fon Hagistrate visited the site of the old Halled City of Kowloon on February 13th and urged such squatters as were still there to rebuild their huts.
This further interference by a Chinese administrative official while discussions with a view to amicable settlement were being conducted at a Government level is particularly untimely and deplorable. I have no doubt that Your Excellency will share the anxiety and disappointment with which the Govermacut of Hong Kong no less than myself dan not but regard this ill-advised and provocutive action which is scarcely calculated to facilitate caln consideration of this problem. It is therefore in the hope of being still in time to forestall any aggravation of the situation au the consequence of the above encouragement to defy authority that I am bringing this disturbing report to Your xcellency's notice with the request that corrective instructione be issued urgently.
His Excellency
Dr. Wang Shih-chich,
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
NANKING.
(signed) RALPH CERIK.
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