CO537-4536 — Page 7

Cypher/OTP

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

FROM NANKING TO FOR IGN OFFICE

Sir R. Stevenson No. 569

4th May, 1949.

D.12.28 a.. 6th May, 1949.

R. 8.55 a.. 6th May, 1949.

Repeated to Canton (Embassy Staff)

CONFIDENTIAL

Hong Kong

Shanghai

Singapore

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 569 of May 4th repeated for information to Embassy Office Canton, Singapore, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Your telegram No. 444.

L

D.V.S. for Hong Kong.

Please see Canton Embassy telegram No. 74 to me.

2. Nanking telegrams for Hong Kong are normally sent by D.1.S. te Singapore for onward transmission. We under- stand from Singapore they are normally sent by Cable and Wireless to Hong Kong (unless re-encyphering is necessary when they are routed via London). It is for Singapore and Hong Kong to inform you whether telegrams sent in this manner travel quickly and to what extent corruptions arise in transit. Arguments in favour of D... staŝion at Hong Kong appear to be increased speed, accuracy and economy but we cannot assess these factors here.

*

3. If routeing via Singapore is considered satisfac- tery there seems no reason why Canton telegrams for Hong Kong should not be sent in the same way.

4. If D.3.5. station is opened at Hong Kong it would not (repeat not) be possible for Consulate station to work direct to Hong Kong since present volume of traffic en existing links already puts almost intolerable strain on our two operators.

5. Use of naval link te Hong Kong is no longer possible owing to withdrawal of His Majesty's Ships.

Foreign Office please pass to Hong Kong as my telegram No. 138.

///

[Copies sent to Telegraph Section Colonial Office

for repetition to Hong Kong.]