CO129-591-16 Liberation of Hong Kong- arrangements in the event of the collapse of Japan 3-8-1945 - 1-8-1950 — Page 71

the Paskin

OUTWARD TELEGRAM Colonial

In this Commem

1. der Secretary of Stat for Foreign Affaire

ANG MAS

Colonial Office

69

F

ET

DEPARTMENTAL NO, 1,

FROM FOREIGN OFFICE TO CHUNGKING

No. 894

15th August 1945.

MOST IMEDIATE

D.

nnnn

sent

on 16

Aug.

My immediately preceding telegram,

Following is text of message.

Begins.

Now that final victory over the forces of aggression has been achieved, I send to my peoples and the peoples under my protection in the Far East, who have suffered the horrors of Japanese oppression, a message of warm sympathy and heartfelt thanksgiving on their deliverance.

The thoughts of the Queen and Myself have been constantly with you during your years of suffering so bravely borne, and with the dawn of the day of liberation, we rejoice with you that the ties which unite my people everywhere will now be fully restored. I know full well that these ties of loyalty and affection between Myself and My Far Eastern peoples have never been broken. But they have been maintained in darkness and in suffering. The time has now come when their strength and permanence will again be displayed in triumph before the whole world.

The traces of a cruel and ruthless oppression cannot be wiped out in a day, and the work of restoration will be long and heavy.

But it is a work in which we shall be united in pride and in confidence, sure in the faith that peace, security and happiness will with God's help be soon restored.

Ends.