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INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES
Турех
PRIORITY
COPY FOR REGISTRATION
FROM HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)
D. 21st November, 1950. R. 21st
11.40 hrs.
22
A
↑
1950
I
ΙΑ
30
No. 1277% Secret.
28
Addressed to S. of S.
#
Repeated to Peking No. 215 (s. of S. please pass).
#1 Acting Commissioner General for U.K.
in South East Asia by saving.
My telegram No. 1207.
Kowloon Canton Railway.
General Manager of British section visited Canton from 8th to 12th November. He was cordially received by Chinese railway authorities who emphasized that negotiations must be regarded as purely local and technical in nature. It seems, however, probable that they obtained covering approval from higher authority before beginning discussions.
2.
Draft working agreement proposed for goods traffic provides for revision of certain freight rates on the British section through invoicing of goods between Kowloon and Canton, maximum use of available wagons, agreed rates of wagon hire and detention fees through working of locomotives, wherever practicable, and facilities for Chinese Customs representatives to examine through goods for Canton at Kowloon. As regards through passenger traffic Chinese proposal was that officials of their Security Bureau should work with the Customs repre- sentatives at Kowloon in order to exercise security check on passengers by through train to Canton. They suggested that if these officers were satisfied with evidence available they would be empowered to authorize return to China of persons whom Hong Kong Police authorities wished to expel from the Colony.
3.
These latter proposals are obviously unacceptable from our point of view and unlikely to work at all satisfac- torily in practice. I consider in fact that no agreement
egarding through passenger traffic is really practicable in present circumstances and is unlikely to prove so unless con- ¿ tions return to something like normal.
4. As regards goods traffic, I see no serious objection to proposal regarding Chinese Customs examination at Kowloon as this is in effect a reversion to previous practice. It would not be worth our while to require reciprocal facilities at Canton. Proposed agreement is of benefit to Chinese authorities as it will facilitats transport of freight they consider important and maximum use of British wagons will to some extent free Chinese wagons for use elsewhere in China.
/We
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