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3.
Nothing has been said on a ministerial level either privately or publicly to suggest that any change in the status of Hong Kong is contemplated. On the 14th October, 1942 the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs in reply to a question which asked whether the contemplated renunciation of British rights in China included also the transference of Hong Kong back to the Chinese nation, replied: "No Sir. The proposed agreement with the Chinese Government relates only to the surrender of extra- territorial rights in Chinese territory". In answer to a further question as to whether a good impression would not be created if. we renounced our position in Hong Kong, Mr. Law replied: "That is another problem which,has nothing to do with the declaration made in Washington and London the other day. In January 1943 a question was again asked in the House about Hong Kong as a Crown Colony and whether its status had been altered by the agreement between His Majesty's Government and the Republic of China. The Secretary of State for the Colonies replied that it had not. Finally in June of this year, in reply to a speech by Mr. Astor declaring that "it is essential that we should have a definite declaration of policy as to the future of Hong Kong," Colonel Stanley referred to a state- ment by the Prime Minister that he did not propose to liquidate the British Empire and remarked that that statement needed no alteration or addition.
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4.
On the question of what Mr. Poynton can say in informal and semi-official discussions outside the Conference Room, it is assumed that he would make no initiative himself on this subject. On the one hand nothing should be said which might be interpreted as suggesting that we are willing to bargain about or even expecting to discuss the future of Hong Kong. On the other hand since we have indicated our readiness to discuss the future of the New Territories, with the Chinese after the war, care should be taken not to convey the impression that the door is bolted as well as shut. On the whole it is suggested that the line should be that naturally we are having to make plans and that of course those plans are based on the assumption that Hong Kong will continue to be administered as a British Colony. Any adjustment of the pre-war position that may be necessary with China and in the common interest must be considered after the war at leisure and by joint consultation.
3.8.44.
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