CO129-591-18 Liberation of Hong Kong- arrangements for Japanese surrender 15-8-1945 - 19-4-1946 — Page 237

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Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek.

I have not yet

seen the surrender documents which the Americans

have compiled, but the J.S.M. telegram goes on to say that, read in conjunction with a later paragraph in the text, it might be interpreted that the Japanese commander and garrison in Hong Kong should only surrender to the Generalissimo. J.S.M.

suggest, and the Embassy agree, that if there is any danger of it so being misunderstood, it might be advisable for H.M.G. "to go on record at once by saying that we do not consider Hong Kong lies in China" As the Secretary of State is aware, instructions have been sent to the C.-in-C., British Pacific Fleet to detach a naval force to steam to Hong Kong to take over the Colony. The Commander of this British force has been instructed to issue a proclamation on arrival in the Colony establishing his military administration and authority. We are waiting for news of the movement and expected date of arrival of this force.

The British representative in Chungking

has been authorised to inform Generalissimo Chi ang Kai-shek of our naval arrangements for the liberation of Hong Kong but has not yet made any response. The Foreign Office propose to tell H.M's representative in China that on the whole we think it better to await the Generalissimo's response before deciding to take official cognisance of the statement reported at A'above, but that if the Chinese formally indicate a desire to accept the Japanese surrender in Hong Kong, they should be told that we regard it as desirable that wherever a sovereign power has sufficient forces available, it should resume its authority in its own territory and should accept Japanese surrender in that territory, regardless of operational commands; and that in the case of Hong Kong we are making the necessary dispositions for this purpose.

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