CO129-560-17 Kowloon- expropriation of Chinese property 6-1-1937 - 4-9-1937 — Page 107

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Would the Hongkong Government not consent to leave

these people to the jurisdiction of their own authorities? He

knew there was an Order-in-Council of 1899 but the Chinese

authorities did not recognise its validity. I replied that

all that had been gone into at the time and the British

Government's attitude had been conveyed to the Chinese

Minister in London in a Note from the Secretary of State

himself in 1900. Mr. Hsu said the Chinese had never ad-

mitted the correctness of that attitude. I replied that that

was so, but the fact remained that that was the British

Goverment's attitude and there was no likelihood of their

receding from it. He ended up with "Well, anyhow, please

give my letter to the Ambassador as soon as he gets back".

I gained the impression from Mr. Hsu's manner that

he did not really expect his representations to bear much

fruit.

(Sgd). A.D.BLACKBURN.

2/12/1936.