NO DISTRIBUTION.
Sir H. Knatchbull Hugessen (Nanking)
Decypher.
29th April, 1937.
D.
W/T
30th April, 1937.
R.
8.15 p.m.
30th April, 1937.
No. 127.
A
(4).
My telegram No. 126.
While I think it is necessary for Hongkong Government to
press the present clearance scheme to a conclusion I am by no means convinced that we are legally justified or even well-advised in entirely refusing to recognise Chinese claim to jurisdiction
in Kowloon City.
2. I have carefully studied the file of this case and I see
difficulty of justifying continued exclusion of Chinese juris-
? by
diction from Kowloon City [?-groundec.] reference to opposition which arose when new territories were first taken over [? grp.undec.] ? as sugg cated
approached by Foreign Office (see letter from Foreign Office to Colonial Office No. F. 1099-1099-10 of March 9th 1934).
33744/34 (41)on 33744/34317
120
trace
3. In Hongkong despatch to Peking No. 32 of October 1st 1934 Sir William Peel said "in my opinion no
William Peel said "in my opinion no such admission (i.e. that Chinese have a special right over Kowloon) can be made without incalculable damage to British interests not only in this Colony but throughout China". Whatever may have been the position in 1934 I am firmly convinced that this statement of opinion is not true
today, and that we should gain great prestige by an act of
reparation voluntarily performed.
4. I would also venture to express the view that dangers anticipated by naval and military authorities in the event of resumption of Chinese jurisdiction inside the city (see Foreign Office despatch to Peking No. 495 (F 4192-109$-10) of July 13th 1934)
can
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