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3.1.26
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3.3.26
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
SECRET.
Copy No.
60
C.P. 104 (26).
CABINET.
SITUATION IN HONG KONG.
MEMORANDUM BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES.
I DESIRE to draw the attention of my colleagues to the accompanying paraphrased telegrams, dated the 26th January and the 6th February, from the Governor of Hong Kong, and to the paraphrase of a reply which I have now returned to him after consultation with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
The Cabinet is already aware of the grave dangers threatening Hong Kong and of the disastrous losses which have been incurred by British trade and by the Colony since the commencement of the Canton boycott in June last. A financial crisis was only averted at the end of September by my approving immediate arrangements for funds up to £3,000,000 to be made available as and when required by the Hong Kong Government for use as a trade loan, the contributors being the West African Currency Board (£1,500,000), the Straits Settlements Government (£1,000,000) and the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank (£500,000). I have now learned from the Governor that the advances made to the commercial community from this loan amounted on the 22nd February to rather more than £1,350,000. The available balance is thus nearly £1,650,000, and the Governor states that there is no immediate probability of the whole of this sum being required.
On the other hand, a settlement of the boycott is not yet in sight, and I feel it my duty to point out that should the continuance of the present conditions be prolonged, and should the balance of the trade loan be exhausted, it will be essential for His Majesty's Government to come to the assistance both of the Government and of the commercial community of Hong Kong. The Canton Strike Committee have so far failed in their endeavours to instigate a second general strike in Hong Kong, but they have shown no signs of relaxing their efforts, and in a recent despatch the Governor alludes to the possibility of Chinese merchants in Hong Kong being induced to participate in the boycott by closing down their businesses. Prompt measures have been taken to counteract this tendency in its early stages, but I need hardly say that should any such development take place it would be fraught with the most serious consequences.
L. S. A.
Colonial Office, March 5, 1926.
I.
558
Paraphrase Telegram from the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Dated January 26, 1926.
(Received Colonial Office, 12-20 P.M., January 26, 1926.)
I HAVE repeated this telegram (which refers to yours of the 16th of January) to Peking; and Jamieson (who is here) asks that a copy may also be sent to the Foreign Office as a reply to Foreign Office telegram to Peking, No. 15 of the 12th of January. The discussion between Admiral Sinclair, General Luard, Sir J. Jamieson, O'Malley and me was held on the 25th of January.
out
Our suggestion is that steps should be taken by the British Government to find
h
(1) Whether it would be possible to induce the League of Nations (including the representative of China) unanimously to pass censure on the existing Government of Canton, for its defiance of the Treaties (in this connection I would refer you to my telegram of the 14th of January): [14290]
B
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