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9

EXTRACT

FROM

HANSARD

(HOUSE OF COMMONS) FOR 7.7.48.

(Written Anson

Vol. 453

Cre. 33)

HONG KONG (STATUS)

62. Mr. W. Fletcher asked the Secre- tary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the change of naval base from Hong Kong to Singapore, he will give an assur- ance that there is no change contemplated in the status of Hong Kong as a Crown Colony.

Mr. Rees-Williams: Yes. I would like to add also that there will be no change in the character of Hong Kong as a naval base; as has been recently announced in the Press, Hong Kong will remain the operational and training base of the Fleet in the Far East.