OUTWARD TELEGRAM
183
Cypher/OTP
No. 194.
POLITICAL DISTRIBUTION.
FROM FOREIGN OFFICE TO NANKING.
D. 1.55 p.m. 28th February, 1948,
28th February, 1948.
Repeated to Hong Kong.
MOST IMMEDIATE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
2-
Addressed to Nanking telegram No. 194 of February 28th, repeated for information to Hong Kong.
My telegram No. 189 of 17th February
181.
Kowloon.
In the course of the conversation it was made clear to the Chinese Ambassador that, having reached agreement in principle, it would be necessary to embody points of detail in an exchange of letters. The Ambassador did not appear to disagree.
2. The essential points to be covered appear to be squatters (my telegram No. 139, paragraph 4), the maintenance of law and order by the Hong Kong authorities and the provision of facilities for sanitation (Hong Kong telegram No. 52, to you, paragraph (b)).
3. The Colonial Office have made it clear that they attach considerable importance to these points. They feel it desirable in order to prevent any future misunderstanding, that an additional paragraph 3 be inserted into the draft statement (my telegram No. 190) to run as follows:-
"It is further agreed as a matter of
practical convenience and in the interests of the residents in contiguous areas of Kowloon that the laws of the Colony apply to the Garden of Remembrance and that maintenance of law and order will be undertaken by the Hong Kong authorities who will also provide facilities for sanitation. The Government of Hong Kong will in these matters consult the trustees as may be necessary".
This is a matter which I must leave to your judgment, but if the paragraph is not included it should be made quite clear to the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs that agreement on these points is an essential part of the arrangement outlined in the draft statement.
(161)
P
333