CO129-591-11 Emergency unit 1-1-1945 - 31-12-1945 — Page 26

FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.

4th August, 1945.

42'

26

(F 4739/1147/G)

SECRET

My dear Gent,

VED

7 AUG 1945

C. O. REGY

You have very kindly sent us a record of the meeting in your room about Hong Kong on 23rd July, (Your reference is No. 54144/7 of 27th July).

With regard to paragraph (9), our idea was that it would be desirable to inform Chiang Kai-shek in advance, in order to avoid the situation contemplated under paragraph (12), of any S.0.E. plan designed to meet a situation when Hong Kong might otherwise be occupied by troops not under the direct control of the Central Government. In doing so it would not be necessary to specify the complexion of such troops. We did not contemplate seeking his consent to the plan. Our idea was merely to inform him in general terms of the contingency we had in mind, the difficulty of meeting such a contingency by means of the normal civil affairs arrangements, and the emergency

arrangements we were accordingly making to deal with it.

G. E.J. Gent, Esq., C. M. G.,

Colonial Office.

Yours sincerely,

Jestindale Bennett

(J.C. Sterndale Bennett)

D.S.O.,