CO537-3707 — Page 241

1

Colonial office, 220

Church House,

Groat Emith Street,

1.

541/15/16/48

12th April, 1948.

ir,

i am directed by ir. Secretary Creech Jones to transmit to you to be laid before the nåalster of Defono. a brief historionl note on the sub,oot of the exorcise of Chinese jurisdiction in Aduloon City.

2. In 1934 the Siniralty and the ar office expreased the view that the exercise of Chi.ose jurisdiction in Kowloon City would be inconsistent with the military requirements for the dorence of Hong Kong and later, in 1937, in the course of negotiations with the Chinese Coveriment, this view wes in fact conveyed orally to tho Chinezo inister of Foreign Affairs by His ajesty's Ambrcador in Hanking.

3. The Chinese claim to Jurisdiction in Kowloon City has again been voatilated following recent incidents there and the question arises whether the exercise of chinese jurisdiction in oslicon City would still in preesat conditions be inconsistent with tho military requiremuate for the defence of liong - ong.

The Secretary of tate would therefore be glad to be furnished as a matter of some urgency, with

the

LE SORT BY,

79.

TRISTAY OF DI FAIDA.