CO129-560-17 Kowloon- expropriation of Chinese property 6-1-1937 - 4-9-1937 — Page 37

run in the city of Kowloon if Chinese jurisdiction were

exercised there and that, for example, the laws regarding

penalties for traffic in heroin and opium would be

enforced.

These involved the death penalty in many cases,

and it seemed probable that great exception by public

opinion in this country would be taken to such law being

enforced within the boundaries of a British colony.

Mr. Cowell asked what the Foreign Office hoped

to gain from such a concession to China compared with

what the Colonial Government would lose.

Mr. Orde said it was part of the policy of

gaining Chinese goodwill which the British trading

community in China had confessed to be of considerable

advantage to British trade there.

Mr. Cowell said that in any case the prestige

which we might lose by giving up jurisdiction in Kowloon

city might have a damaging rather than a favourable

effect on the British position in China. He asked

Lieutenant Colonel Whiteley whether Chinese jurisdiction

in Kowloon would be consistent with the military

requirements for the defence of Hong Kong.

Lieutenant Colonel Whiteley said that they had

received from the General Officer Commanding, China

Command, a list of military safeguards required. These

included