OFFICE OF THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE
Great George Street,
London, S.W.1.
237
8th May, 1948.
Dear Listowel,
I understand that you wish to have my views and those of the Chiefs of Staff on the Chinese claim to be given jurisdiction in Kowloon City.
The Chiefs of Staff, after consulting the British Defence Co-ordination Committee, Far East, and the Hong Kong Local Defence Committee, consider that, if Chinese jurisdiction was given even for a small area of the Kowloon walled City, the organisation of anti-British activities would be facilitated. The area under Chinese jurisdiction would probably become a rallying point for Chinese nationalism from which active measures to return the whole Colony to China would be directed.
The Chinese can always organise and inspire trouble as free citizens of Hong Kong, and they enjoy the exceptional advantage of entering and leaving the Colony without formality. These privileges are liable at times to be embarrassing,
The Right Honourable
The Earl of Listowel.
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