54145/16/48.
20th January, 1948.
Spicer,
With reference to your letter to inna of the 14th January and its enclosure, of which you sent me a copy, 1 enclose & aute which has been prepared by the Department on the subject of the eviction of squatters from the area known as the Walled City of Kowloon" in the Colony of Hong Kong.
My Secretary of state hopes that if
Mir #tafford Cripps replies to his Chinese friend, he will feel able to say that from the enquiries which he has made, he is quite satisfied that the eviction of these squatters was justified, and that the hong kong Government acted throughout in a reasonable a..a proper
ihanner.
It is unfortunate that this affair has been worked up locally and grossly exaggerated for political reasons. I can assure you that the Governor of long
who has been kept fully informed of the represen- tativas which have been made by the Chinese Government in this matter, both in Ganking sad in London, and is aware of the repercusions in China, can certainly be relied upon to give the fullest consideration to these factors.
I an semain, a copy of this letter und
enclosure to inna.
Yours incerely,
(sgå)
J.d.. Spicer, 8.
N.D. WATSON.
Private Secretary.