departure from the record is that, when the draft
was discussed with General Festing he expressed
very strongly the view that the new
instructions should be communicated in strict
confidence to the members of the Executive Council.
As G.0.C. in Hong Kong in 1945 and 1946, General
Festing had himself been a member of the Executive
Council for 9 months immediately after the
restoration of civil government in Hong Kong;
and, from his experience during that period, he
was quite convinced that there would be a serious
risk that the new arrangements would not work
smoothly, unless the members of the Executive
Council (and certain senior officials who are not
members of the Council) are made aware of them.
سهم
جی
It is essential that the draft telegram
should be approved without delay in brder that it
can be dispatched to intercept, the Minister of
Defence before he reaches Hong Kong.