CO537-(1262-1649) — Page 940

0045

74

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00046

2

cms

Ref.:

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

CO 537/1649

restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet.

Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright

Ina

N

(c) Trussury

MR. YOUNG suggested that, until a decision had been taken as to our permanent policy (i.c., whether we meant to remain in Hong Kong indefinitely), 'it would be difficult to come to any final conclusion on the issues set out in the memorandum. The memorandum gave him the impression that we wore fighting a delaying action, for a Hong Kong which would inevitably be lost. He was not convinced that this was a correct representation of the position.

(d) Burm Office

MR. GIBSON said that it would be awkward if tho Chinese were to think that His Majesty's Government were "on the run" in regard to Hong Kong since that might lead to the revival of Chinose claims to certain parts of North Burm.

(c) India Office

MR. DONALDSON Brid that the Indi-n leedurs had constituted themselves the champion of "Asia for tho Asintics" and might be expected to support the rendition of Hong Kong to Ching.

(f) Dominions Office

MR. DAVIES said that the press camp ign to which Mr. Lomb had cluded had found on echo in South Africa

who had already made enquiries 6 to our intention with rugard to Hong Kong. Australia and New Zealand

would not welcome the idur. that we should liquidate our responsibilities in Hong Kong.

In further discussion of the momorandum the amendments shown in the annex to those minut.s were made.

In more general discussion there was considerable support for the view that the memorandum should be expanded so as to bring out the reasons why it was felt that we should continue to hold Hong Kong periantly. This could be done without substantial modification of the structure of the memorandum in its cxistin form, although it was recognised that the way in which the conclusions were aut out might have to be altered e. g., on the points whether anything should be said as to the po: sibility of negotiations with China being initiated from the British side, and rs to the desirability of making 2 public statement that we intended to retain Hong Kong.

The Committoe:-

Invited the Foreign Office and the Colonial Office

to r vise the memorandum in the light of the discussion and to circulate fresh draft to the Committee.

Cabinet Office, S.W.1.

12TH DECEMBER, 1946.

-5-

1

cms

Ref.:

CO 537/1649

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Int

2

restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet. Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright

Page 940Page 941

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