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(F 2490/376/10) CONFIDENTIAL

Dear Mayle,

FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.

27th February, 1947.

Thank you for your letter No. 54145/4/47 of 24th February enclosing copies of telegrams exchanged with the Governor of Hong Kong regarding the proposed constitutional changes.

As I mentioned on the telephone, the only point on which I am at all doubtful is the statement that "the Municipality will include Kowloon." In reading this the Chinese, who are unlikely to realise that the New Territories are excluded from the scope of the proposed Municipality because of their predominantly rural character, may assume that this exclusion is intended to pave the way for a termination of the lease, and may thereby be encouraged to press for such termination. I suggest therefore the desirability of adding a sentence indicating that the administration of the New Territories will remain unchanged.

Otherwise, we agree with the text of the proposed statement. Could we please have a copy of the text as finally approved, to telegraph to our Embassy at Nanking in advance of the announcement?

N.L. Mayle, Esq.,

Colonial Office.

Yours sincerely,

hit kissin.

(G.V. Kitson)

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