CO537-4999 — Page 228

1.1.0./1190/49.

THREAT TO NO

KONG

Foreign office suggested amendments to the draft comments prepared by the J.I.3. on the report by the J.I.C.(F.B.) on the "Threat to Hong Kong.

Paragraph 3:

"As regarda 2(a) no time schedule is given. The

J.I.C. do not doubt that the return of Hong Kong to China

is an ultimate aim of the Chinese Communiete, ca it must

be of any conceivable Chinese Government, but evidence

obtained from Communist documents captured in Hong Kong

seema to suggest that it is at the moment not an immediat

plan."

Faragraph 4:

Amend the last two sentences as follows:

"On the contrary, it is not impossible that the trading

value of Hong Kong in British hands may in the immediate

future be of such great importance to them that they may

temporarily nequicaes in the status quo. At any rate

such evidence as there is suggests that they have probably

not yet decided to take early action."

Foreign office.

11th July. 1949