CO537-2188 — Page 299

tam

FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1

11th June,1947.

59

(F 7652/376/10)

CONFIDENTIAL.

578

Dear Mayle,

Thank you for your letter No. 54145/4/47 of the 6th June about the proposed constitutional changes in Hong Kong.

I have no comments to offer on the draft despatch to Hong Kong except for one very minor textual point. In paragraph 3(d), Chinese are twice referred to as "subjects" As they belong to a Republic I think they prefer to be described as "Chinese citizens".

Similarly, in draft telegram 'C', paragraph 1(a), last line, it might avoid possible ambiguity to say "Chinese who are not British subjects" instead of "non-British Chinese subjects.

N.L. Mayle, Esq.,

I am copying this to Helsby, Treasury.

Colonial Office.

Yours sincerely,

lilition

(G.V. Kitson)