TNAG-0943-FCO40-1162-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 100

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would take place shortly after the termination of hostilities. Foreign Office minuting discussed objections to the appointment of a Chinese Consul, and reviewed the extent of the Chinese presence in Hong Kong.

5. The root of the difficulty, in HMG's eyes, lay still in the likely relationship between a Chinese Consular Officer and the Chinese inhabitants of Hong Kong. Even though the then Chinese Government recognised the principle of dual nationality, it was feared that a Chinese Consular Office would tend to establish a separate focus of authority. Other objections pointed to the presence of Japanese troops in Canton and along the China coast, which would discourage the flow of visits by local British residents to China. (Similar/objections had been raised in 1932 when it was argued that the unsettled political state of China, with Canton barely recognising the authority of the Nanking Government, might lead to Hong Kong dealing with an official Chinese representative who could not speak for the whole of his country).

6. In early 1941, a number of officials of the Nationalist Government were unofficially established in Hong Kong with finan- cial or economic functions, including an unofficial representa- tive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Such people, HMG argued to the Chinese, were capable of communicating Chinese official views to the Hong Kong authorities. The Chinese Consular Invoice Officer, whose function was established in Hong Kong in 1932, was still active. His duties included the granting of visas for local British residents wishing to visit China.

Consideration of appointment of a Chinese Consul-General

7.

By March 1941, however, the Foreign Office was taking the view that in the prevailing state of Anglo-Chinese relations, it might be difficult to continue to resist the Chinese propo- sal for appointment of a Consul-General if seriously pressed. Accordingly, the Colonial Office in a letter of 31 March 1941 sought the views of the Governor of Hong Kong on the proposal. The Colonial Secretary made clear his preference for a consular representative enjoying normal facilities and privileges, but did suggest, as a possible compromise, a less formal arrange- ment, such as the stationing of a personal representative of Chiang Kai-shek in Hong Kong.

8.

The views of the Governor, Sir Geoffrey Northcote, were set out in a "demi-official letter" of 14 May 1941 to the British Ambassador in Chungking. The Governor welcomed the proposal for a Chinese Consular Official, but made two stipulations :-

(a)

"that it would be clearly understood by both sides that this functionary would not be privileged to represent the views of British citizens of Chinese race or of Chinese citizens domiciled in Hong Kong on questions relating to the domestic affairs of this colony and

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