TNAG-0121-FCO40-157-Kowloon-walled-city-and-adjoining-areas-1970 — Page 34

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clear that we regard the Walled City as part of the Colony and there seems to be little to be gained by a public assertion of our attitude.

5. We cannot exclude the possibility that the Chinese Government might protest even if action were limited to immediate remedial measures. But if it were clear to them that we had no wish to start a public quarrel about jurisdiction over the City, and were simply concerned with the safety of life and property, then I do not think that the Chinese Govern- ment would be disposed to make a major issue out of this. Action which went beyond this point would of course be a different matter.

Criticism in Detail

5.

Paragraph 9. It should be made clear that no action should be undertaken beyond immediate remedial measures to save life and property without consultation with the F.C.O.

Paragraphs 10-15. Here again the question of inspection, compulsory requisition, occupation of buildings and resumption of land all require the most careful consideration and consultation with the F.0.0. This is especially true in the case of legal questions where the first step often governs all the subsequent decisions and actions.

Paragraph 16. Publicity is a double-edged sword and should only be started if we are clear in our own minds at the very outset that we should take action to assert authority over the area.

Scope of the Paper

7. The paper only deals in general terms with possible action. On this issue, as with most others in Hong Kong, it is difficult to take any blanket decision. Our relations with the Chinese Government over Hong Kong depend to a very large extent on the observation by both sides of tacit ground rules where fine distinc- tions are of crucial importance. Any contingency plan to cover action of this kind must be prepared in the greatest possible detail.

Recommendations

8. I should be grateful for your comments on the paper. I suggest that we should write to Mr. Maddocks.

(a) asking for clarification of the status of the paper

and the stage reached in the decision-making process;

(b)

pointing out the need for consultation with the F.C.O. at the earliest possible stage if action is contemplated in view of its likely effect on Sino-British relations;

(c) explaining our reservations about the underlying

concepts of the paper;

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/ (a)

suggesting