INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES
ALENDED COPY (words ecrrupt group' deleted at 4.
other corrections a underlined)
201
her (0.T.P.)
TION
FROM HONG KONG (BLY A. Grenthem)
D. 14th March, 1948. R. 14th **
የን
09.05 hrs.
Su (205)
IMMEDIATE
No. 298
Addressed to B. of S.
Kepeated to British Ambassador Wenking, No.öl.
197
Your telegram No. Bl
Kowloon City.
541.45/16/60
I am in favour of informing the Chinese we have gone as far as we are prepared to go and that since they are not (repeat not) přepared to agree, we now intend to put the question of jurisdiction to International Court and propose, pending Court decision, status quo will be maintained in Kowloon Oity 1.0. huts that have been ro-erected since 12th January will be allowed to remain and those persons living in them will not (repeat not) be disturbed. but no (repeat not)new hurts will be permitted and we shall take no (repeat no) action in Kowloon Olty unless events therein create an immediate danger to public law and order or health e.g. epidemic of cholera. Chinese should also be requested not (Pepeat not) to aggravate the position by sending in comfort missions, etc.
2 In advocating reart to International Court, I have assumed that even if the Court should deal with the Kowloon City question on ita merits as well as on purely legal aspect, it would be unlikely to consider question of lease of the # rest of nor territories.
Of three courses planned in your paragraph 3, I prefer Garden of Remembrance to park but both are (compé group) provided that Chinese will agree to our proposals for control, etc. Ae to your 3(a); I cona Lfor that it would be dangerous to leave shinge as they are. The herd core of squatters that resins is not (repeat) not) likely to disintegrate and as long as 16 is there it is a convenient rallying point for anti-British #sitation coupled with demand for rendition of Hong Kong.
Your paragraph 9. I doubt 12 we would gain anything by publicity at t:15 juncture. It would tend to exacerbate matters and 2.80, in a publicity battle, Chinese are likely to come off best since they have no (repeat no) scruples in these matters. But if Chinese agreo to international arbitration and to maintenance of status quo as in paragraph 1 above, then joint factual statement would be important.
5. Will telegraph esvinate of cost later. Corrections received 16th March.
Dopies sent 601-
Foreign Office
Mr. A.L. Scott