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HONG KONG UNIVERSITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Confidential
No.HKUAC 19.
Further note dated 25th January by Sir George Moss in support of his view that informal or diplomatic approaches should be made to discover the extent of the support of the University which might be expected outside Hong Kong.
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My own view is that the nettle must be grasped sooner or later and that present conditions are as opportune as they are likely to be. At any rate, I do not feel inclined to advise that His Majesty's Government should spend huge sums (maybe millions) on a University scheme liable to be wrecked by Chinese hostility, when Chinese co-operation might well be secured. We should find out where we stand with them.
Chinese views (in political and press circles) on Hong Kong may well be hardening, That is to be expected from Easterners who realise that the time is ripe for a bargain." They are running to form.
My own information, such as it is worth, is very different. I think it is worth something. I have a Chinese friend, Mr. P. C. Kuo, of U. N. C. who was Chairman of the U. N. O. Preparatory Section on Trusteeship, who incidentally telle me that he has worked with Mr. Creech-Jones, I befriended P. C. Kuo considerably at Hankow in circumstances which strongly influenced his career (he was then a Professor at Wuchang University). He has always been frank to me and is a really close friend and one of the most intelligent men I know. I have much respect for his opinions. He visited me here before I joined the HKUAO and I have since (before our Committee) had a general talk with him on our position in China and Hong Kong as an old China friend holding no official position (he was urging me to return to China and I took the position that so long as the Chinese adopted what I considered was a hostile and ungrateful attitude I saw no attraction in residence in China or Hong Kong. This led to frank talk and the expression of personal views committing no-one but nevertheless honest and interesting).
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Kuo knows all the leaders in Chungking and is on intimate terms with K. C. Wu, Hu Shih, Yang Shin-Chieh, Han Li-wu to my certain knowledge. Shortly his views are:-
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As a matter of practical politics the Generalissimo and hie Circle have decided to welcome the British back in Hong Kong, though they may press for the return of the Leased Territories. But any tendency to selfish exploitation of Hong Kong in the British interest would be bitterly resented and opposed by the Chinese, but by the Americans and all the other nations who are intensely interested in Hong Kong as an international port and Emporium of international trade. It was assumed that the British would go back to restore Hong Kong in the spirit of the U.N.O. and the New Times. If so there would be co-operation and no serious opposition and the Chinese Cabinet realised the great practical advantages of British co-operation based on the occupation of Hong Kong and their stake there,
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