CO129-590-6 Liaison between Hong Kong Government and British Ambassadors in China and Japan 8-11-1940 - 1-2-1941 — Page 12

F 5053/5053/61

Draft Telegram

FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.

January 1941.

Despatched

12

M.

Sir R. Craigie,

Tokyo.

Sir A.Clark Kerr,

Chungking.

NORTHCOTE

The Colonial Office recently revived a

proposal discussed in 1934 - 1935 for a personal

representative of the Ambassadors in Japan and China

to be attached to the staff of the Governor of Hong

Kong in view of the importance of ensuring the

closest possible liaison and understanding in the

present state of tension in the Far East and of the

fact that Hong Kong is an obvious point where the

Japanese might pick a quarrel with us and the

Chinese Government might find the means of

embroiling us with Japan.

2. The advantages of such a scheme are obvious,

but so are the difficulties of providing in wartime

personnel with the necessary background and

experience.. These difficulties have been discussed

with the Governor of Hong Kong who was inclined to

agree that the situation would be much improved by

more frequent contacts between diplomatic and

consular officers in China and Japan on the one hand

and the Governor of Hong Kong and his staff on the

other, i.e. by periodical exchange of visits or

He mutual secondment for short periods. The Governor

stressed, however, that his main need was for more

advice on commercial and economic matters. He would

welcome for this purpose the re-appointment of a

trade commissioner at Hong Kong who would keep in

touch with His Majesty's Embassies in China and

Japan, or alternatively he suggested that a member

of the commercial secretariat in China might be

appointed to reside in Hong Kong.

3. I should be glad of your comments on these

suggestions./