CO129-560-17 Kowloon- expropriation of Chinese property 6-1-1937 - 4-9-1937 — Page 34

In

NOTE OF

OF A MEETING

HELD AT THE COLONIAL OFFICE

ON 16TH JULY, 1937.

Present:-

H. R. Cowell, C. M. G.

C.M.

(in the Chair).

Sir A. Caldecott, K.C.M.G., C.R.E.

Sir J.T. Pratt, K.B.E., C.M.G. )

C. W. Orde, C. M. G.

33

Foreign Office.

Lieutenant Colonel J. F. M. Whiteley, M.C., R. E.

G.E.J. Gent, D.S.O., O. B. E.,

P. Rogers

M. C.

(War Office)

Colonial Office.

Sir A. Caldecott described the small size of

the old Chinese "walled city" of Kowloon, and said that

it was now completely surrounded by the extension of the

present port and town of Kowloon. The buildings which

surrounded the wall of the old city were as insanitary

as those which had recently been cleared inside, and

would eventually have to be cleared away also. The main

military and Royal Air Force establishments were all

within the Leased Territory. It was to him unthinkable

that we should surrender jurisdiction in a part of the

Fortress area to a foreign Government. It was further

to be borne in mind that the Chinese were not likely to

be content with jurisdiction in the "walled city" only,

but may be expected to cast covetous eyes on the rest of

the