CO537-3706 — Page 120

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171

Nanking telegram to Foreign Office No.231

2

There

4. It seems to us here clear that in the circumstances it is impossible in fact to shelve the issue of jurisdiction. Hong Kong Government are unable to do so in view of their responsibility for the maintenance of order in the surrounding area. The Chinese Government refuse to do so for political reasons. is thus little if any hope of evolving a formula to surmount this difficulty. I presume that you will not. (repeat not) find the Chinese Government's attitude in this matter acceptable and if our negotiations therefore bog down, the situation foreseen in paragraph 3 of Hong Kong telegram to Secretary of State for the Colonies No.214 of February 22nd will seem to have risen.

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