158
No.203 (2/342/45)
BRITISH EMBASSY, CHUNG KING.
21st February, 1945
SECRET
Dear Benito,
I enclose a copy of a minute by Hutchison on some remarks about Hong Kong made to him by K.C. Li, Chinese Adviser to the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank. The suggestion that we should make the offer now to return Hong Kong and the Kowloon leased territory, subject to the proviso that that British control should be retained for a certain period after the war, is on the same lines as that made by Li Shu- fan to John Keswick at the end of 1943 (see Wallinger's letter to Ashley Clarke No.1279 of the 31st December, 1943). Incidentally, I am never much impressed by the argument that, if the Kuomintang have committed themselves definitely enough to some claim, foreign governments must politely agree.
May we soon expect some guidance about the future of Hong Kong All that we have seen recently is the answer to Astor's question in the House on the 8th November last, which was perfectly definite but does not throw any light
naturally) on the question whether matters are to be left alone or taken any further. Kitson, in his letter of the 11th October last to Sedgwick of the Colonial office (copied to Far Eastern Department as No.1106), asked if it would be possible to let us have a memorandum on the subject, but nothing has yet come of that approach.
His Majesty's Government may, without our knowledge, have already decided their policy. If that policy is that Hong Kong is to remain exactly as before there is
J.C. Sterndale-Bennett Esquire, C.M.G., M.C.,
Foreign Office,
London, S.W.1.
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