CO129-540-13 Proposal by Chinese Government to establish vice-consulate in Hong Kong 6-6-1932 - 30-12-1932 — Page 3

3

In sending over the Chinese note under

3 P.N. the Foreign Office make no reference to

previous correspondence on the subject of the

establishment of a Chinese Consulate in Hong

Kong.

I think that in all probability the

Chinese Government has deliberately coupled

together the requests for the opening of three

Vice-Consulates at Liverpool, Bombay and Hong

Kong. If the requests for Vice-Consulates at

Liverpool and Bombay are granted they probably

consider that they can easily argue that it is

illogical to refuse a request in the case of

Hong Kong.

It seems to me that the Hong Kong

Government have good grounds for fearing that,

in its peculiar situation, the appointment of

a Chinese Consul might well undermine the

position of Secretary for Chinese Affairs and so

multiply and intensify the difficulties of the

Hong Kong Government.

As the Treaty negotiations are

suspended sine die there appears at present to

be no question of China offering a quid pro quo

and the Hong Kong Government is most unlikely

to take up a less intransigettitude on this

question than in 1929/30.

The question has not, however, been

ventilated lately, and I think we must refer to

Caube

Hong Kong before any reply sent to the Foreign

Office. I see no objection to telegraphic

reference being made as requested by the Foreign

Office, and I submit draft telegram for consider-

ation.

Marquezon

29.6-32