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Extract from SECRET Savingram No. 50 From the Governor,

Hong Kong, To the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Dated 11th August, 1947.

Original on 54228/1/+) copy for 54145/4.7

(a) Interest or activity in the Colony on the part of any

foreign country.

(i) The arrival in the Colony on 25th July of the new Governor

Sir Alexander Grantham, preceded as it was by the publication on

24th July of the despatches between Sir Mark Young and the Secretary

of State for the Colonies on the subject of constitutional reform for

Hong Kong, prompted the Kuomintang organ, the National Times, to

publish a long leading article entitled "The Future of Hong Kong".

This paper commented at length about three months ago on the statement

made by Sir Alexander, then Governor designate, at a press interview in

America, to the effect that he believed Hong Kong would remain a British

Colony and that even the Chinese wished it to remain so (see the

Appreciation dated 23rd April, 1947, covering the fortnightly period

ended 14th April, 1947). In the leading article now under reference

the National Times refers again to the statement made by Sir Alexander

at San Francisco and repeats its opinion that Sir Alexander is still

looking at Hong Kong from the point of 20 years ago; even if those

Chinese in Hong Kong who have received a "British Colonial education"

and are comparatively ignorant of their own country would prefer to see

Hong Kong under British control they do not represent the mass of the

Chinese residents in Hong Kong. The paper goes on to say that although

Hong Kong is the nearest place to China for the promotion of Sino-

British friendship and intercourse, little has so far been done since

the war along these lines, and it is hoped that the advent of the

new Governor will see more progress being made.

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