CO129-542-15 Land at Sham Shui Po- occupied by Military authorities 6-1-1933 - 31-10-1933 — Page 18

Tel. No.-Whitehall 9400.

Any further communication on this subject should be addressed to :--

The Under-Secretary of State,

The War Office,

London, S.W.1,

and the following number quoted.

Aust (8

NATIONAL

119/Abroad/1877. (Q.M. G. F.B.).

Sir,

6.18

THE WAR OFFICE,

th

LONDON, S.W.1.

September, 1933.

SCHEME

FOR DISA

RECEIVED

9 - SEP 1933

C. O. REGY

!

(13) on

(2)

12591/38 Gout.

I am commanded by the Army Council to refer to your letter No. 13734/33 of 9th March last, transmitting a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong on the subject of certain areas of land at Sham Shui Po which have been in military occupation since 1927.

In reply I am to express the Army Council's regret that it has been necessary to remain so long in occupation of this area, and to assure Secretary Sir Philip Cunliffe- Lister that they do not fail in appreciation of the action of the Hong Kong Government in allowing that occupation to continue without raising hitherto any question of termination or conditions. The difficulties with which the Council

are faced, however, in the matter of accommodating the troops at Hong Kong are within the knowledge of the Secretary of State for the Colonies. As they have already explained in their letter 083/5778 (M.0.1.) of 10th May last, the SECRET. Council have taken steps to secure that the question of

finding permanent accommodation for 3 British battalions at Hong Kong shall receive urgent consideration, and as Sir William Peel states in paragraph 7 of his despatch, the matter has for some time been engaging the attention of the local military authorities and has formed the subject of discussions with the Colonial Government.

The Council hope soon to be in a position to make definite proposals for the provision of permanent accommodation for the garrison of Hong Kong, which is a necessary preliminary to the evacuation of the temporary camp at Sham Shui Po, and I am to renew the assurance, given

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office,

S.W.1.

in...