CO129-609-5 Future policy- Press accounts of Chinese unrest over Kowloon evictions 19-1-1948 - 16-3-1948 — Page 28

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Editorial in Canton Daily Sun, 11th January, 1948.

NO DEFAULT

The statement made by Foreign Commissioner T. W. Kwok in Hong Kong Friday evening and that issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nanking on the same day have clarified the Kowloon walled city affair from the Chinese angle. China has regarded that territory as belonging to her and has never waived sovereignty over it. Therefore that strip of land is not a part of the Crown Colony of Hong

Since it is Kong nor the leased New Territories. Chinese territory, the Hong Aong authorities acted without justification in entering on the land in dispute and demolishing the shacks.

Mr. Kwok's statement revealed that the Chinese Government had been very categorical in its stand. There can be no other course for Nanking to follow, as Chinese rights are governed by the Peking Convention of 1898. It is high time that the walled city issue be settled once for all, as attempts were made in Hong Aong to regard it as a part of the leased territory. Why Hong Kong wants to lay claim

but it may be

to that piece of territory is not exactly clear,

surmised the colonial authorities want to exert its control for the sake of convenience and prevent the return of Chinese officials, whose permanent presence might be embarrassing or not desirable at times for various reasons.

We believe the present controversy surpasses previous incidents in gravity, since hundreds of Chinese have lost their dwellings and are homeless. We hope the government of Hong Kong will accept the Chinese viewpoint in the light of past co- operation and mutual dependence, otherwise this will give rise to complications and frictions. Hong Kong has nothing to lose by acceding to the Chinese position.