3
TO FO. (50)
i
Ter / Def (50)
5
Fo
نا
Chinia & S.E. A. Cinthie, Tuintes, Exhau
21/5
21/5
23/5
19/5
7
Memo.
(Disadvantages of apponiting.
th
Since Govenor)
817 Minutes abonet worthine 1942 & 1943,
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r/Def
Hong Kong tel. 434 Secret
direalis
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to Cic. Ceylon
24/5/49
12/5/49
ic.
Dep.
Commns Gent. tel. 151 Secret
19/5/49
+
In para. 9 of his despatch of the 3rd May (the first paper in No. 1) the Governor submitted that the historic role of Hong Kong as an
imperial trading base
should not be
abandoned, but should be reaffirmed: "it being
understood that the local Government will continue to take all possible measures of defence and security, provided that they do not jeopardise the primary function of the Colony as an imperial trading base
In paragraph 7 of that despatch the Governor mentioned some of the measures which would be likely to prejudice the trade position of Hong Kong, such as immigration control, registration of the population, and compulsory military service. His submission was based on the very interesting account given of the manner in which the trade of Hong Kong is conducted, which formed the second enclosure to that despatch.
This issue was submitted to the China ahd South-East Asia Committee in paragraph 10 of the Secretary of State's memorandum at No. 2, but was not dealt with by the Committee.
It was subsequently agreed that we should endeavour to settle this issue inter-departmentally, and my letters to the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence at Nos. 3 and 4 were designed to put this in train.
The Foreign Office reply is at No. 5; but (as will be seen from No. 8) the Ministry of Defence have tabled my letter for a meeting of the Chiefs of Staff on Wednesday the 1st June, at which Mr. MacDonald and General Ritchie will be present, and which I have also been asked to attend.
In the meantime, at the meeting of the China and South-East Asia Committee on Thursday 19th May (No. 6), the Chiefs of Staff (we under- stand at General Ritchie's instigation; proposed
/ that
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