T
no request from the Chinese Government that we should take action in the matter. In all the circumstances the Embassy feel that it would be a mistake to risk antagonizing by unilateral action personalities or groups who may later on play a prominent part in the Government of China and who may in the event of a critical decline in the predominance of the K.M.T. perhaps act as a brake on complete Communist control.
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4. This view we think is sound, and therefore we do not wish to suggest that any further action should be taken to bridle these personalities and bodies, beyond what has already been done. We hope however that the Hong Kong Government will keep a strict watch on their activities, since in view of the sit- uation in China there is always a likelihood that they will in some way or other overstep the mark, and give the Chinese Government genuine cause for complaint against us. I fear it follows from the above that we would be unwilling to consider action at the present juncture to rid Hong Kong of the orthodox K.M. T. organizations and its youth Corps as the Governor originally proposed.
5. We should of course be interested to see copies of any further despatches on this subject which may reach you from Hong Kong.
(Yours ever)
(Sgd.) P.W. Scarlett.
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