CO129-592-8 Future Policy in Hong Kong 1-1-1945 - 26-11-1945 — Page 82

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Extract from Telegram 8

No. 945 of 26th August, 1945, from Chungking to the Foreign Office.

[English text of Presepent's Statement to National

befence Council

Council and Central Executive Committee August 14th - published by Central hews ]

андионы

Finally I should like to say a few words about Hong Kong question, Hong Kong and neighbouring province of Kwangtung face common security problems. Hong Kong was assigned to China theatre following outbreak of Pacific war. China will not use occasion of Japan's unconditional surrender as a pretext for disregarding international agreements and infringing upon rights of our allies. We will not take advantage of this opportunity to despatch troops to take over Hong Kong, nor will we provoke misunderstanding among our allies. I wish to state here that present status of Hong Kong is regulated by a treaty signed by China and Great Britain. Changes in future will be introduced only through friendly negotiations between the two countries. Our foreign policy is to honour treaties, rely upon law and seek rational readjustments when the requirements of time and actual conditions demand such readjustments. Now that all the leased territories and settlements in China have been one after another returned to China, the leased territory of Kowloon should not remain an exception. But China will settle this last issue through diplomatic talks between the two countries".

[Ends].