CO537-3705 — Page 257

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KOWLOON WALLED CITY

Mr. Wallace and I went over to see Mr. Scarlett at the Foreign Office this morning. As you know, the Chinese Minister called on Mr. Dening yesterday afternoon and made representations concerning the action taken by the Hong Kong Government for the eviction of squatters in the Kowloon Walled City. Mr. Dening took a firm line with the Chinese Minister, who was dissatisfied with the result of the interview. The Chinese Ambassador is calling on Sir Orme Sargent to-day at 5 o'clock to make further representations, and

Mr. Scarlett, Mr. Wallace and I prepared, in consultation, a brief for Sir Orme Sargent. Mr. Scarlett has promised to let me have a copy of the brief and of the note / Chinese Minister left yesterday, giving the heads of his representations, but as these may not arrive before 5 o'clock, I thought you would like to have this note.

The representations made by the Chinese Minister did not cover quite the same ground as the official representations made through our Ambassador at Nanking, to which we shall, of course, have to send an official reply. The burden of the Chinese Minister's representa- tions was that excessive force had been used against the squatters, of whom a large number had been injured, that this was a poor return for the efforts which the Chinese Government had made to seek a peaceful solution of the matter, and that instructions should be issued to the Hong Kong authorities forthwith to refrain from sending any further police to Kowloon Walled City, or taking any further action against the squatters.

We based the brief for Sir Orme Sargent on the Chinese Minister's representations rather than the official representations, and it started off by saying that while we appreciate the concern of the Chinese Government for the welfare of the Chinese subjects involved, the reports were highly exaggerated both as to the police forces used and the number of injured. The brief then went on to give the facts of the case, and pointed out that the clearing of the area was a normal administrative act taken by the Hong Kong authorities in the interests of preventing fire and disease. The brief does not directly refer to the Chinese request for instructions to be sent to the authorities to refrain from taking any further action, but it concluded by making the point that the Chinese Government's representations had, of course, been fully reported by His Majesty's Ambassador both to H.M.G. and the Governor of Hong Kong, and that we were quite satisfied that the Governor of Hong Kong would give the fullest consideration to them in any further action which it might be found necessary to take locally in connection with this matter.

Incidentally, the result of Mr. Dening's interview with the Chinese Minister was telegraphed to Nanking and a copy of the telegram was sent to the Governor of Hong Kong, who will thus be aware that his action is supported here.

14.1.48.

/P.S.