CO537-3705 — Page 154

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OUTWARD TELEGRAM

FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES

69

OUTWARD TELEGRAM

145/16/48.

Cypher (0.7.P.)

INMEDIATE

Ą

TO HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)

FROM S. OF S., COLONIES.

Sent 21st January, 1948. 21.45 hrs.

Addressed to Governor, Hong Kong. Repeated to H.H. Ambassador, Nanking.

(31) (51)

Your telegrams Nos. 67 and 70.

Kowloon evictions.

Proposals in paragraphs 5, 6 and 7 and Ambags ador" a comments thereon in his telegram to Foreign Office No. 67 repeated to you Saving are under consideration bere,

2. Your view in paragraph 4 of your telegram No. 67 on Customs Station proposal is accepted.

3. Proposal to turn Walled City area into public park, discussed in Ambassador's telegran to Foreign Office No. 65 repsuted to you Seving seems to offer some prospect of reducing likelihood of further incidents over Walled City, and it is clearly desirable to reach definite decision as soon as possible.

I agree with you however that suggestion

in paragraph 2 of Ambassador's telegram No. 65 seems to be open to even atronger objection than proposal for Custome Station. I should be glad to know whether public statement concerning park envisaged in paragraph 7 of your telegram No, 38 was made; and also whether you ede any objection to definite decision being taken now to turn site into park, and to Chinese Government being informed of this decision. If so, what do you suggest should be said to them? Grateful also for your comments on suggestion in paragraph 5 of Ambassador's telegram No. 55.

t

(Copies sent to Foreign Office for tranuniasion

to Ranking).

Copy sent to:-

Foreign Office

Mr. A.L. Scott.