CO537-2192 — Page 39

54179/47

SECRET

Dear Kitson,

Colonial Office,

Downing Street,

S.W.1.

8th August, 1947.

28

Activities of the Kuomintang

in Hong Kong

Before Grantham's departure for Hong Kong we discussed with him the question of the policy to be adopted by the Hong Kong Government towards the activities of the Kuomintang in the Colony, in the light of the views expressed in sir Mark Young's Top Secret despatch No.13 of the 17th April, the Ambassador's telegram No.545 of the 29th May, his subsequent despatch No. 21 of the 12th June, and your letter to me No.F.8392/376/10 of the 3rd July.

Grantham agreed that, in all the circumstances, the policy advocated in your letter of the 3rd July should be pursued for the present.

In

I accordingly enclose the draft of a despatch on the subject which, subject to Foreign Office concurrence, we propose to send to the Governor. view of his close interest in this matter, it has already been submitted to Mr. Creech Jones who, in approving the terms of the draft, observed that, if the Kuomintang continue to organise intimidation and violence in Hong Kong, and make political difficulties for us there - more particularly in connection with the elections to the new Municipal Council, when this is established - we may have to

G.V. KITSON, ESQ., C.B.E.

reconsider ·