COPY
Colonial Office,
Downing Street,
S.W.1.
28th July, 1945.
4.
1
54144/38/45
TOP SECRET
My dear Cadogan,
Before the Election results Colonel Stanley had been impressed with the urgent need to clarify our position in respect of the administration of Hong Kong on the liberation of the Colony. In view of the information we now have'as to operational plans in China he had come to the conclusion that there was no time to be lost in approaching Chiang Kai Shek with a view to reaching an understanding with him in the event of the liberation of Hong Kong by Chinese forces, on the lines of the agreement which we already have with the Americans regarding British territories in American operational spheres.
Owing to the fact that the Generalissimo's Chief of Staff is an American General, who is reported to be personally opposed to any action by the British in China directed to the reoccupation of Hong Kong, we feel that, before approaching Chiang Kai Shek, we should do anything we can to make sure of American support for our proposal, and in view of the high political issues involved we feel that our preliminary approach to the Americans should be on the highest possible level. I enclose a note on the facts of our position in respect of Hong Kong. THE HONOURABLE SIR ALEXANDER CADOGAN, G.C.M.G.,
In
K.C.B.
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