GOVERNOR,
54229/47.
HONG KONG NO. 15.
SECRET
sir,
Ansel. (!!)
Colonial office
26
10
The Church House,
Great Smith Street,
S.7.1
12 November, 1947.
I have the honour to refer to your despatch No.32
of 10th September, 1947, in which you review the operation of the Protected Places (Safety) Ordinance, Ordinance No.16 of
1946, and recommend that this measure should be retained for at
least another six months.
2. I note that the Ordinance has in large measure
achieved the object for which it was enacted in that, with the
sole exception of the Engineer Stores Depot at Shamshuipo, there
has been a marked decrease in looting. I also note, with
satisfaction, the prudence with which the exceptional powers
conferred by the Ordinance have been used by all concerned, and
that no criticism of the Ordinance or of the way in which it has
been employed has so far been voiced.
3. I agree that, from these points of view, there is
no reason to anticipate serious trouble if the Ordinance should
remain on the Statute Book for a further period of six months.
At the same time, the measure still carries the risk referred
to in paragraph 2 of my secret despatch No.245 of the 28th
November, 1946, of bodily injury to the members of the civil
population. There is also, I imagine, some possibility of
political capital being made out of the existence of this
measure, especially in the event of Chinese nationals being
wounded or killed as the result of the use of the exceptional
powers granted.
SIR ALEXANDER GRANTHAM, K.C.M.G.,
4.
etc., etc., etc.
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