FO371-41657 — Page 10

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I cairo

Dear Sir,

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F

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930

a

13th April

I see it stated in a paper which is usually well

informed, that Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek returned from China

.

deeply disappointed that he did not get an undertaking that

Hong Kong would be handed over to China after the War.

Might I suggest that consideration might be giv-

en to the distinction between "sovereignty" and "ownership", to

the improvement of relations between the countries.

There is a case in point on the East coast of

India. The French Government long ago acquired some land

there for a trading post, and in recent years wished to claim

sovereignty over the area. But the Indian Government objected

and stated that while it admitted the French qwnership of the land

it could not admit French sovereignty.

It is just the kind of Briton who is most proud

of what the British have made of the desolate useless spot that

was Hong Kong who sympathizes with the Chinese in feeling that

xxxhover the display of British Sovereignty now such an integral part

of China is a source of continual humiliation and irritation.

This feeling would be completely changed if

Hong Kong became a self-governing State in the Chinese Republic

flying the flag of China but with all the land belonging to

g

the British Government, and the forces in much the same relations

to the Chinese Government as the Indian States Forces to the Indian

Government.

There have been several cases, e.g. Egypt, Persia

(during the last war), Trans-Jordania, showing that British

officers enjoy raising and training forces owing allegiance to a

foreign Government.

Your most obedient servant

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HWGardiner.

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Registry

No.

71830/1506/10.

Draft.

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