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PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION.

BRITISH EMPIRE (HONG KONG)

45. Mr. Astor asked the Prime Minister whether Hong Kong or any other part of the Empire is excluded from his declara- tion that it is not proposed to liquidate the British Empire.

The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee): No part of the British Empire or Commonwealth of Nations is excluded from the scope of the declaration referred

to.

Mr. Astor: While expressing great pleasure that this declaration has come from the Leader of the Labour Party, may I ask him whether all encourage- ment will now be given to British firms to prepare plans for re-establishing them- selves in Hong Kong, and getting on with British export trade in that area?

Mr. Attlee: That is obviously so.

Mr. Shinwell: Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that Members of the Labour Party are as keen to advance the well-being of the British Empire as are Members of the Tory Party?

Mr. Sorensen: Could my right hon. Friend say exactly how we acquired this particular part of the world?

Mr. Attlee: I would refer my hon. Friend to any reasonable book of refer-

ence.

Mr. W. J. Brown: Does my right hon. Friend recognise that whether the Leader of the Labour Party is right or not to- day, the ex-Leader of the Tory Party very nearly gave the British Empire away for a pound of tea?

8 NOV 1944

43

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