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

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Sir Alan Burns.

Secy State

In view of the importance of ensuring in the present state of tension in the Far East that the

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policy and actions of the Hong Kong Government conform strictly with the policy of H.M.G. towards China and Japan and such neighbouring territories as Indo-China, I mentioned to you the possibility of reviving the suggestion, unofficially made in the past, for stationing in Hong Kong, at the Governor's elbow, a personal representative of one or both of H.M. Ambassadors concerned. In the past the problem has centred round policy towards China see my minute of 27.3.34 and No. 3 in 34019/34 Eastern). To my mind the need now is no less than then that there should be in Hong Kong a representative of H.M.'s Ambassador in China whose business it would be to keep both the Governor and the Ambassador au fait with each other's outlook on any particular situation. But also now, in view of the projection of Japanese authority into the area of China with which Hong Kong is most concerned, there is a new need for H.M.'s Ambassador in Japan to be similarly represented in Hong Kong - such officers do not need to be too senior but to have sufficient experience to enable them to grasp at sight the importance of any particular situation firm the it il tion of British relation with Japan of China.

We have as current instances the affair of the Burma Road Agreement restrictions which would have been avoided if Sir R. Craigie had had a personal representative in Hong Kong who could have advised bat the Acting Governor and reported to the Ambassador himself. Another even more recent instance is the affair of the arrangement which the G.0.C. at Hong Kong had just made in Hong Kong with a military commission sent from General Chiang Kai Shek.

The obvious endeavours of General Chiang Kai Shek to embroil the British with the Japanese, and on

the other hand the obvious delicacy of Hong Kong's geographical position in our relations with the Japanese authorities make it, to my mind, urgent that the closest possible contact and coordination should be created between H.M.'s three representatives in the China area.

I mentioned the point in conversation yesterday to Sir Geoffry Northcote, who told me that his own reaction to it was favourable and that he would himself welcome such appointments. I suggest that it should be taken up without delay once more with the Foreign Office.

Sin C. Parkinson

G&Vant

31.10.40.

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