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(F 3753/2906/10).

Sir,

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OUT FILE

FOREIGN OFFICE, S. W. 1.

27th April, 1939.

145

With reference to Colonial Office letter

No.53838/11/39 of the 17th April regarding the

clearance of certain Chinese vessels from Hong Kong,

I am directed by Viscount Halifax to inform you that

in his opinion the Hong Kong authorities have already

done all that can reasonably be expected of them in

the matter of making it difficult for these ships to

leave Hong Kong waters.

2. Lord Halifax is advised that it would not be

possible on, so to speak, "public" grounds, to

request the Hong Kong authorities to use for this

purpose any special or emergency powers which they may

possess. Whether there are ordinary legal grounds

upon which the ships could be detained appears to

be a matter entirely for the Government of Hong Kong

themselves to decide.

3.

If the Chinese authorities are anxious that

these ships should not fall into Japanese hands, it

is rather for them to take the necessary steps vis-à-vis

the Chinese interests concerned, and if necessary, to

make it worth the latters' while not to part with

them.

4.

A copy of this letter is being sent to the

Board of Trade.

The Under-Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.

I am,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

(Sd.) N. B. RONALD,

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