CO537-3705 — Page 9

"A,B+C"

at 50

now see (53)

A 50

{

Mr. Mayle

1. Developments in the case are noted in your minute of 14/1. Mr. Seel saw (23) before it issued and minuted on 16/1 that Ministers should see when the reply came.in. The reply is at (31).

1. We had a discussion with Mr. Scarlett and Mr. Scott at the Foreign Office yesterday. We considered a draft F.0. reply to the Chinese Minister's aide-memoires (14 and 20B) and agreed to prepare here for incorporation in the reply a note dealing with the criticism of the Hong Kong Government in the aide-memoires. This note is marked 'B'. We also agreed to send a telegraphic reply to (31) to Hong Kong; our draft of this is marked 'C'. These two papers have been sent across to Mr. Scarlett this morning under cover of the letter marked 'A'.

3. We have asked to see the proposed reply to the Chinese Minister's representations (which, I understand, is to be given to the Chinese Ambassador) and this, when received, will be submitted to higher authority here.

4. As agreed at the Foreign Office yesterday, we have sent off a brief separate telegram to Hong Kong asking for up-to-date information about the casualties (copy not available) - particularly in view of a suggestion made from the Chinese Embassy here that the man with the bullet wound has died.

♫ As regards the request for information by the Colonial Attachè at Washington (30), we have telegraphed to him that he will find it in F.0. Intel No.26 which has gone to Washington. We did this after consultation at the F.0. yesterday. Mr. Scarlett has just 'phoned me to say that as a result of (30) Mr. Drumwright of the American Embassy here has been asked to come round to see Mr. Scarlett this morning, as it is considered important to make sure the Americans understand our side of the case.

6. A copy of a note prepared in response to a request for information from Sir Stafford Cripps' Private Secretary (which has gone up separately to higher authority) is at 'D' opposite for reference.

не

20.1.48.

Mr.

Seel

You wished Ministers to see this file when the Governor replied to No.23. His reply is at (31) and there is another important telegram from him at (49), giving the text of letters exchanged with Mr. T.W. Kwok, the Representative of the Chinese Government in Hong Kong.

/Mr. Rees-Williams