FO371-24688 — Page 56

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INDEXED

3481/17

With the compliments of Mr. A.H. Poynton.

13031/4/40.

SECANT.

Puter

177 2 JUL 1940

Colonial office,

Downing Street,

28th June, 1940.

10

U

ppm 271

Dear Hills,

I think you are familiar with the Hong Kong evacuation scheme about widch you attended a number of discussions last year. The only reference to your correspondence I can find is T. 03132/ST.1B. I now enclose a copy of two recent telegrams to the Governor of Hong Kong, from which you will see that it has been decided that the evacuation scheme is to be put into force, though as regards the actual despatch of white persons to Manila we are still waiting to know from Lord Lothian that the United States Government agree. I also enclose a copy of the 0.0.C'a telegram 7361 to the War Office (to which reference is made in our telegram No. 312).

The shipping arrangements will presumably have to be made on the spot, but we should be very grateful for anything that the Ministry of Shipping can do, e.g. by telegraphing to their representative in Hong Kong to ensure that adequate arrangements are made for carrying out the evacuation scheme.

U

You will remember that it was decided that certain of the coloured evacuees were to be sent to Colombo or kadras. It is recorded in the minutes of interdepartmental meeting held here on the 21st of us at which you were present, that we should not warn Colombo and adras until detachments for those ports had actually sailed, while as regards foreign ports than anila it was not proposed to attempt any preliminary arrangements. You will see from our tel No. 312 that we have asked the Governor of Hong Kong notify the authorities in the countries of destinati of the sailings and to give them full particulars. are, however, telling the India Office semi-official that the scheme has been authorised,

L.C. Hills, Esq.

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