A draft despatch to the Governor, conveying to him the instructions as to his relationship with the new Commander, Hong Kong, had been prepared before it came to our notice that, while in Hong Kong, Mr. Alexander himself had conveyed these instructions to the Governor in a formal letter"by the desire of the Secretary of State for the Colonies This was rather going beyond what was intended because we thought that the actual texts of the instructions to the Governor, and to the new Commander (as to which see on 94003/8/49) would be concerted after Mr. Alexander's return, when they would be sent to the Governor in a despatch from the Secretary of State.
Actually no harm has been done because as will be seen from my minute on 94003/8/49, there is no conflict between the two documents. There is therefore no need for another formal communication to be sent to the Governor.
(I asked Air Marshal Elliot why the Minister of Defence had adopted this rather unusual procedure and he told me that they had inter- preted the X in the Prime Minister's telegram at No. 23 as a request to do this. Actually the text of the instructions which were conveyed to the Governor in the enclosure to No. 34, included the amendment which was agreed upon to meet the Governor's request which was conveyed in the telegram at No. 26).
While, as I have said, there is now no need for any formal action on this file, I should be glad if it could be returned to me together with 94003/8/49 in case any informal action is required as a result of the meeting of the Defence Committee tomorrow.
(what I hown in mind is that
this has been cleared of Defence Critter,
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20/6.
P.TO.
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