CO129-611-2 Liaison with British Embassy and consulates in China- appointment of political advisor 1-9-1945 - 20-10-1947 — Page 56

(F9621/376/G)

RESTRICTED

FOREIGN OFFICE, S. W. 1.

29th July, 1947.

RECEIVED

147

58

33

Dear Galsworthy,

(57) July

C. O. REGY

Thank you for your letter 54226/47 of the 14th about the proposal for closer liaison between Hong Kong and His Majesty's Embassy and Consulates in China.

As regards (a), we still wish to maintain our previous standpoint, that is to say to leave the matter open for the present and reconsider it after a year's experience, say, next August, by which time sufficient working experience will have been gained to enable a definite conclusion to be reached.

We see however no objection in principle to the arrangements you suggest for attaching Hong Kong Service officers for training and experience to His Majesty's Embassy at Nanking, but, before committing ourselves finally we feel we must confirm that our Ambassador at Nanking sees no objections, as there may for example be difficulties of accommodation. We are writing to him straight away and asking for a telegraphic reply, and I will let you know when that reply comes to hand. A copy of our despatch is enclosed.

Assuming the Ambassador agrees I would suggest that thereafter details should preferably be discussed and settled between our Personnel Department and your Organisation Department, though there is of course no objection on our part to direct discussions between Hong Kong and the Nanking Embassy subject to reference home before anything is finally settled.

N. Galsworthy, Esq.,

Colonial Office.

As