CO129-613-6 Arrest of members of the Kwang Tung Provincial Peace Preservation Corps 10-1-1947 - 25-11-1947 — Page 44

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Memorandum No. 36/406

To:

44

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Office the Commissioner for Kwangtung & Kwangsi.

Hong Kong 25th February, 1947.

The Colonial Secretary, Colonial Secretariat, HONG KONG,

Re: Your letter No. 6251/45TS of 20/2/47

I am to acknowledge the receipt of the above letter on the subject of the detention of the two members of the Kwangtung Peace Preservation Corps.

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(signed) C.Y. LIANG

Secretary.

Memorandum No. 36/405

Ministry of Foreign Affairs office of the Commissioner for Kwangtung & Kwangsi

Hong Kong 24th Feb., 1947.

To:

The Colonial Secretary, Colonial Secretariat, Lower Albert Road, HONG KONG

Re: Detention of Chinese Soldiers in the New Territories:

Further to our Memorandum No. 36/332 of the 12th of February, 1947, on the above subject, I am directed to inform you that this office is now in receipt of a communication (Tai- tien No. 52669 of the 15th February, 1947) from the Governor of Kwangtung, confirming that the two Chinese soldiers detained in the New Territories are members of the Kwangtung Peace Preservation Corps detailed for preventive duties on the Border and requesting that the Government of Hong Kong be good enough to effect the immediate release of these two members together with their arms and equipment for handing over to the representative of the Provincial Government now detailed in Hong Kong

In the said communication, the Provincial Government of Kwangtung has further pointed out that while there is now obviously no difficulty for the Government of Hong Kong to accept the fact that these Chinese soldiers were carrying out their duties at the time when they were ambushed and overpowered, there should be no further ground for the Government of Hong Kong to withhold the release of these members of the Chinese Government Armed Forces on the mere pretext that they were charged for armed robbery by junkmen who are armed smugglers themselves.

In view of the above clarification of the fact, I am therefore to request that the Government of Hong Kong be good enough to effect the immediate return over of these two Chinese soldiers together with their arms and equipment as requested by the Provincial Government and to favour this Office with an early reply.

We are sure that in no way will the Government of Hong Kong tolerate, harbour or protect any smuggler.

(signed) C.Y. LIANG 3ecretary.