3
54145/16/6/48
12G RO
NO. 155
CONFIDENTIAL
COLONIAL OFFICE,
The Church louse,
Great Saith Street,
9.7.1.
16 June, 1950
Sir,
I have the honour to refer to Nr. Creech Jones'
riority Secret Savingram No. 200 of the 10th of September, 1948, on the subject of owloon City. You vere informed in paragraph 1 of this communication that reference to the Internation1 Court of the dispute over owloon City should be avoided and in the same pragraph you vere informed of the advice on which this conclusion wis based. I am now able to explain that this advice we contained in in opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown. Since the Attorey General has conditionally consented to #llow the pinions of the law (fficers of the Crown to be communicated to Colonial Covernors to whom they are of interest, nd since i understand that owing to the destruction of records by the Japanece full documentation concerning the history of the "owloon City dispute is not now available to you, I now eiclose for your information a complete copy of the Reference to the law (fficers, Their ¡eport expeɛrs oa prges 10 to 12 of the print.
2.
.
The terms of the Attorney General's consent are as follows:-
"The Law (fficers agree that the actual Opinions given by them. to the Coloni‹l office may be communicated to other Departments and to Colonial Governors who my show them to their Law Officerr, but not to their Executive Councils, provided that proper precautious ere taken to ensure that the Üpinions are treated as confide tial."
J
Should it seem desirable that your Executive Council shoul: see this Opinion, the Attorney Ceneral will be prepared to consider a reruest to this effect, but his consent will only be given in exceptional circumstances.
3. However, notwithstanding the above terms of the Attorney General's consent and notwithstanding the provisions of Colonial Regul: tion 145(4), there is no objection to your communicating the substance of this ́pinion, or even using its actual words, at your discretion, to the Executive Council, or to officers of His Majesty's Cervice provided that no 1idic tion is given of the source of the pinion.
I hve the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient,
humble servant,
(Signed) J. GB
THE OFFICER KOMITISTERING,
THE GOVER:AINT OF
LG KG,