CO129-619-1 Parliamentary delegation to China 1-9-1947 - 23-12-1947 — Page 45

C.O.

DRAFT

DRAFT AND RECORD COPY

REGISTERED No.

MR. avle

54405/47

CONFIDENTIAL

LETTER SENT

405

27

Colonial Office,

Church House,

Great Smith Street.

S.W.DATE

25th September, 1947.

MR.

MR.

ENCLOSURES

cony of briefor Parliamentar Delegation under

Lal).

FURTHER ACTION

As promised, I enclose a copy of the brief for the Parliamentary Delegation to China, which was prepared by the Foreign Office and has been handed to Members of the Delegation.

The Foreign Office had a briefing meeting with Members of the Delegation before they left, at which three points concerning Hong Kong were raised. The first was an enquiry about the future of Hong Kong. This was answered by a reference to the last page of the brief dealing with the status of Hong Kong, and an intimation to the effect that nothing further could be said on this point. The second point related to the proposals for re-establishing the University. The Delegation wore informed that these proposals had the joint support of the Colonial and Foreign Offices, but that the Treasury have recently said that in present circumstances they cannot give any assurance of financial help from H.M.G., but would be prepared to review the matter next year. The Delegates have been asked not to treat this as a formal announcement but to say, if questioned, that they understand this is the position. Finally, one of the Delegates asked if they would be able to get in touch with Communist political refugees from China, who might be in Hong Kong. They were warned that

this

To

SIR ALEXANDER GRANTHAM, K.C.M.G.

[4264A] Wt. 11439/415 50m. 5/45 C.N.Ld. 748