TNAG-0378-FCO40-424-UK-policy-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-after-1997-1973 — Page 46

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C.S. 41A

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COLONIAL SECRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD

HONG KONG

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H L1 DAVIES ESO

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Dean Hugh

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24 April 1973

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Seca Mars by Mr Strut & Mix ked ROLET B 95 hiteresting. Some of these machinating

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Dr. More

BRITAIN AND HONG KONG DURING THE PACIFIC

WAR YEARS

of course came

to the surface when we looked of the history of Chinese attempts to establish a representative in Houghing.

7/0/40/4

Enclosed is the summary of a paper read on 18 April by a Dr K C Chan of Hong Kong University. The subject forms part of a wider project on Hong Kong's position vis-a-vis China from 1937 to 1945, and I understand that the paper will be published in a learned journal during the autumn.

2.

She

What does not come out in the summary is that Dr Chan has been digging around in the Foreign Office and Colonial office archives, and has come up with some very interesting material, principally interdepartmental minuting on the British attitude during the War years to the future of Hong Kong. tends, I think, to put too much stress on divergent views within the Office, and might do better to concentrate on the papers that actually emerged (although the former are a fascinating study of decision making).

But what will come

out of her paper is that in 1942/43 H M G were definitely prepared to contemplate the reversion of Hong Kong to China, and were about to offer to negotiate with China (i.e. Chiang

We did Kai-shek) on this point once the war had been won.

not in fact make the offer because at the last moment the Chinese dropped their suggestion that we should negotiate. Later of course our bargaining position was stronger, and, with Truman succeeding Roosevelt, we were under less pressure to revive our offer. (Not that the return to Hong Kong was made easy by the Americans.)

-/2.

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Future of Hong

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