CO129-611-2 Liaison with British Embassy and consulates in China- appointment of political advisor 1-9-1945 - 20-10-1947 — Page 2

C.I.

C.

1. F.O. F. 11807/1147/10-note

(sent under cover of

G.V. Kitson 7/1-regd.

by

2

John Keswick

letter from

on 54145/4

2. F.O. F.526/113/6

*Note

2

X

-14.1.46.

Mr. Keswick's proposals in (1) have reached us belatedly. (They were written in September, given to the Foreign Office by the Ambassador in November and reached us in January). I do not think however that anything has been lost by this and indeed the position is clearer in that it has now been decided that Mr. North who was Secretary for Chinese AITairs should not return.

Briefly Mr. Keswick's proposal is that in consonante consensus with post-war conditions there should be much closer liaison between the Goverment or Hong Kong and the Central Government of China through H.M.Embassy and that there should be more awareness in Hong Kong of political trends on the mainland.

My John Keswick а мисливат

1

&

the form of

3

This in l'uct is the view that we have been endeavouring to establish for the past two or more yeurs for Malaya as well as for Hong Kong and itasan idea which has been fully discussed with the Ambassador on at least one of his visits to London. It Was with this policy in mind that both

Vardino Malleson Colonel Purcell (Malaya) and Mr. MacDougall (Hong

in Hove koup unlit recently hai

held

a

political post on Sarrea's

in which

staff сараитво

للمنا

9

lowout Counsellor.

معطماع

Kong) while serving in their respective Planning Units were encouraged to visit Chungking. The conception or closer liaison with the Embassy with a view to maintaining contact with trends of thought and policy in China itself has also found expression in paragraph 2 of the Directive on Chinese Policy which reads: "Close contact should be maintained with H.M.Embassy and with Consular representatives in China with a view to ensuring satisfactory relations with the Chinese Metropolitan and Provincial authorities in matters of concern to the Colony.

(I have put a copy of this Directive behind (1) on the file).

41

•

The machinery that Mr. Keswick suggests for achieving these aims is an extension of the responsibilities or the post of Secretary for Chinese Aïïairs so us to cover also "External Altairs" He suggests also that this extension should be reflected in the title of the post. A Depurtinent is envisaged in which there would to some extent be a division or function as between (a) Internal and Domestic Affairs on the one hand and (b)External and Political issues on the other. As regards (a) there will certainly continue to be a need for an officer to devote the greater port or his time to domestic issues and it therefore seems very necessary that there should be an auditional oflicer whose responsibility will be to keep the Hong Kong Government closely in touch with Colonial autoirs polJical in China. He would I think naturally become what

is suggested in the Foreign Office letter at (2) namely a Liaison Orricer with the bassy. letter at (2) is the result of an enquiry we de to the Foreign Ofrice on a view which the Ambassador Wes sisted to have given as to the suitability of a

(The

/Lt.