OUTWARD TELEGRAM
FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES
267
Cypher(0.7.P.)
TO HONG KONQ(Sir A.Granthem)
Sent 7th July, 1948. 15.45 hrs.
No.759 Secret
Vide (271)
Following from Nanking to Foreign Office No.561 of
6th July repeated for information to Hong Kong as No.212.
Colonial Office telegram No.691 to Hong Kong.
Kowloon City.
Begins.
I share unfavourable opinion expressed in Hong Kong telegram No.606 to the Secretary of State for Colonies regarding this Chinese proposal, which if anything emphasises the contraat of jurisdiction as well as introducing a national rather than sentimental factor by suggesting name Chung Shun for the Garden of Remembrance,
20 At the same time I doubt the wiadom of reference to International arbitration unless we are confident of the strength
of our c&80, lest a decision against us should encourage the
Chinese to create other difficultiee later on. L088 of prestige from an adverse ruling by such a tribunal must also be a serious consideration.
3a In the circumstances I still adhere to my preference for alternative of using grounds for official quarters of Chiness representatives on terme outlined in paragraph 1 of my telegram No.181 of February 20th. This would place the onus for not abusing letter and spirit of agreement squarely and (erp, undee..? publicly) upon the shoulders of the Chinese Government themselves, Moreover if we could succeed in inaertång into the agreement some reference to the usual immunities granted to foreign consular representatives or premises it would serve to stress coneular status of the Chinese officials concerned, It might thus
also be possible to evade the need to include any specific provisions relating to jurisdiction, in which event, the Chinese occupants would seem to have no practical alternative but to hand over malefactors on thees premises to Hong Kong police. I would add as a minor consideration, that the area in question is not easily accessible as well as not being very healthy so that (grps. undec. ) dwelling up on this alte should not prove to be very pleasant to the Chinese officials concernad. It would therefore be desirable to insert some clause to place upon the Chinese Government, the obligation to commence building at an early date.
inda.
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