CO537-4999 — Page 107

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WEDNESDAY. 22ND JUNE. 1949.

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X

QUESTION:

MR. EMRYS HUGHES:

(Lab.

Ayrshire, S.)

To ask the Minister of Defence, what was the purpose of his visit to Hong Kong; and what conclusions he has come to as to whether further military activity there is justifiable.

X

QUESTION:

MR. LANGFORD-HOLT:

(Con.

www.g

Shrewsbury).

To ask the Minister of Defence,

whether he will make a statement on his recent visit to Hong Kong and the Far East.

MR. ALEXANDER

As the answer is rather long I will

with permission make a statement in reply

to Questions Nos.

end of Questions.

. and

at the

As I indicated to the House on May 5th and for the reasons then fully stated, His Majesty's Government decided, in view of the uncertain position in China and our responsibility for Hong Kong and the welfare of its people, to reinforce the garrison by elements of all arms. During & short tour of the Middle East and the Far East in the early part of this month I stayed for three days in Hong Kong for discussions with the authorities on the spot.