ORIGINAL ON. 54147/47.
Secret.
107
29th May, 1947.
Re-establishment of Hong Kon University
I expect you will have seen Crombie's I expect the 9th of ha letter to me or the 9th of May, about the proposals in my letter to Gilbert of the 12th of April for financial assistance from the United Kingdon towards the rehabilitation of Hong Kong University.
In Crombie's letter he raises the question whether it is H.M.G's intention te endeavour to hold on to Hong Kong for as long as possible. 1 if necessary resisting considerable pressure from China to give it up. We had, of course, hoped that my Secretary of State would have been able to make before now a reassuring public statement concerning our intention to remain in Hong Kong. You will probably remember that this was one of the recommandations in a memorandum on the future of Hong Kong which was prepared herefor submission to the Cabinet and sent over in draft form to the Foreign Office, but that earlier this month Mr.Creech Jones had a conversation with Mr.Bevin, at which it was decided not to proceed with the submission af the memorandum for the mosent.
From a note made by Mr.Creech Jones of this conversation it appears that Mr.Bevin, wallst
Sir Orme Sargent KCB KCMG.
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