CO129-574-8 Centenary anniversary of the occupation of Hong Kong 13-9-1938 - 10-1-1939 — Page 26

Gpy to Fi

ॐ

MX. CONFIDENTIAL

ADDRIVE

Sir,

1 26

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG,

13th September, 1938.

I have the honour to address you regarding

the celebration of the centenary anniversary of

the occupation of Hong Kong by the British which will

occur in January 1941.

2.

It will be appreciated that the choice of

the form which the official recognition of this event

should take is not easy, it being most desirable to

avoid offending Chinese national pride or sentiment

in the course of commemorating an occasion which

resulted from a Chinese defeat and in the surrender

by China of a part, however, small, of its territory.

3.

Various alternatives have been considered

in the Executive Council and that which most commends

itself to my advisers and myself is the erection by

public subscription of a life-size statue of His

Majesty the King, to be unveiled, if so approved, by

a member of the Royal Family. This would, I am

assured, meet with the unqualified approval of all

communities in this Colony as well as of the Chinese

in Kwangtung and it would be entirely appropriate

to the occasion. The unveiling of the statue would

be the focal point of several days of festivities

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

MALCOLM MACDONALD, M.P.,

&C.,

&c.,

&C.

Caly #.K...~8

of

45-66

file.