CO129-588-24 China- British extra-territorial rights- negotiations with China 23-11-1942 - 1-1-1943 — Page 184

OUTWARD TELEGRAM

Mr

Paskin. 185

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be kept under Lock and Key.]

[This telegram of particular secrecy and should be retained by the authorised recipient and not passed on].

F7973/828/10

[Cypher]

No.7592.

WAR CABINET DISTRIBUTION

TO: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

FROM FOREIGN OFFICE TO WASHINGTON.

4th December, 1942.

D. 3.45 p.m. 4th December, 1942. ·

сссс

Your telegram No.5775 [of 26th November: future of Hong Kong).

As indicated in my telegram No.1063 [of 8th August] various reasons make it necessary to maintain for the present the most absolute reserve about our attitude to- wards the future status of Hong Kong. If recent state- ments in Parliament and Prime Minister's declaration that what we have we hold are interpreted as statements of our intention to retain Hong Kong, I see no disadvantages.

2. I suggest that the line to take with enquirers is to say that our objective is to defeat Japan and reconquer Hong Kong

3. Chinese have proposed that we relinquish our rights in Kowloon Leased Territory under our extrater- ritoriality treaty. I am repeating to you, for your confidential guidance only, instructions to His Majesty's Ambassador as to the reply to be returned to the Chinese Government.

OTP