CO537-6036 — Page 52

Whitehall 9000 Extension 244

M/NID.464.6/50

RESTRICTED

Military Branch,

Admiralty,

London, S.#.1.

4 July, 1950.

Dear Trench,

The enclosed copy of a document which gives the "Provisional Swatow Customs Preventative Law" was sent to the Admiralty by the Staff officer (Intelligence) Hong Kong. It was published on the 17th February, but I gather that it has not been widely publicised; it seems to have come into the possession of the Staff officer (Intelligence) through the Royal Interocean Line.

2. Paragraphs 10, 11 and 12 are notable in that they contain what is to our knowledge the first official indication that the Feople's Government recognise a 12 mile territorial water limit.

3. May I assume that you will consider how and when H.M. Government's views can best be represented to the People's Government? of immediate concern is the fact that the degree of assistance that H.K. Ships can afford to merchant shipping is governed, amongst other things, by our recognition of a three mile limit.

I am copying this letter to Craig of the Ministry of Transport and Hall of the Colonial office.

Yours sincerely,

P.S. fuce this

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N. C. C. Trench, Esq..

Foreign office,

London, S.W.1.

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BJC/JAH/CCB.11.