CO129-573-2 Export of torpedo boats to China 14-5-1938 - 5-10-1938 — Page 52

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the

the vessels to be armed after arrival at Canton

Foreign Office told us (F.2474/34/10 of the 8th March) that the construction of those boats which could only be regarded as vessels of war was open to even grever objection than the assembly of military

aircraft; and with the approval of the Foreign Office

our telegram to the Governor of 6th April on that

matter included the words "The construction in Hong Kong

and the delivery of warships to either of the

countries engaged in the present Sino-Japanese hostilities would be contrary to the policy of His

Majesty's Government". The Governor was therefore

instructed to tell Messrs.Bailey that the export of the gunboats to China ir constructed would be

forbidden during the continuance of hostilities by the use of the Governor's powers under the 1915

Hong Kong Importation and Exportation (rdinance.

5. The objection of the Foreign Office in

that case was stated to be an objection to the

construction in Hong Kong of vessels of war for

China during the present hostilities and was no

doubt