CO537-3706 — Page 85

INWARD TELEGRAM

TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES

COPY FOR RECIO...TION

ar (0.T.P.)

FROM HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)

13

XI

пл

D. 11th March, 1948.

10.15 hrs.

R. 11th

PROFIVED

IN

199

REGISTRY

No.283 Secret,

Addressed to S. of 8.

Repeated to British Ambassador, Nanking, No.62.

13

by savingram to Canton.

Kowloon City.

A line of argument which we do not appear to havo utilized to our advantage is the fact that eviction of residents from Kowloon City in 1936/1937 was successfully carried out and appears to have been accepted by the Chinese Government of that time. North China Daily News early in February carried a report stating inter alia that Dr. Philip Tyau, who was Special Commissioner for Foroign Affairs 1936-41 "took up the Kowloon City issue with the Hong Kong Government through the British Consul General at Canton during 1936/1937, when compensation was paid, loans to Kowloon City residents and alternative sites in =(?Hunghom) were given them".

2. Neither we nor Canton have any records, and I should, therefore, be grateful if correspondence of that time could be looked up to ascertain to what extent the Chinese Govern- ment accepted that solution. If they did accept, it should be more difficult for them to take a strong line in support of the present Squatters, who nearly all came in since the liberation.

= Correction being obtained,

Copies sent to:-

Foreign office

Mr. A. D. Scott.

Page 85Page 86