CO129-560-17 Kowloon- expropriation of Chinese property 6-1-1937 - 4-9-1937 — Page 55

Sir A. Caldecott reiterated his opinion that

if we once gave up jurisdiction in the city of Kowloon

this would constitute a serious threat to the

maintenance of the colony of Hong Kong,

"if this were admitted Mr. Cowell pointed out that in this case any

question of reversing previous policy and admitting

clearly

Chinese jurisdiction would have to be decided by the

Cabinet.

A

Sir A. Caldecott suggested that the walls

should be preserved but that the four remaining hovels

in the city should be cleared and that a park should be

created there. If the Chinese Government continued

to object, then the new Governor, when he went out to

Hong Kong, might suggest that the park should be styled the

Friendship

Sino-British Park and be administered by a Committee Kwangtung

might

incorporated by a Hong Kong Ordinance, and the Chinese Provincial Government should be invited to nominate a representative

on the administrative Committee of the park. While

there would then be no question of Chinese jurisdiction,

he thought that this would go far towards saving the

Chinese "face".

Mr. Orde said that they would have to consider

the matter further at the Foreign Office, and that with

regard to the request from the 0.A.G. of Hong Kong, that

steps should be taken for the eviction of the remaining

householders within the city, they would telegraph to

H.M. Ambassador in China to ask if he saw any objection.

He himself was of the opinion that the eviction might be completed

continued and need not be postponed for consideration of

the larger question of jurisdiction.