FO371-46251 — Page 247

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TOP SECRET

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1960

Arrangements for the Administration of Hong Kong in the Event of its Liberation

by Regular Chinese

-00000-

orces.

According to information provided by the United States Chiefs of Staff to the British Chiefs of Staff at Terminal, an offensive is contemplated by American-trained Chinese forces in the direction of Canton and Hong Kong in the fairly near future.

2. The Colonial office plans for the resumption of the administration of Hong Kong have hitherto been based on the assumption that its recapture would be by American or British forces. By the terms of the Charter of the Combined Civil Affairs Committee at Washington which was approved by the Combined Chiefs of Staff in September, 1943, there is a clear agreement with the Americans that in British territories in the Far East which are in an

merican command, the policies to be followed on the liberation of those territories shall be laid down by lis Majesty's Government and accepted by the American Force Commander. Consequently the way would be clear for the administration of Hong Kong by British officials if its liberation were achieved by American forcer. But we have no similar arrangement with the Chinese and the Colonial Office are now faced unexpectedly with the necessity of making an arrangement with them; but before approaching the Chinese Government they wish to ensure that our attempts to reach such an arrangement do not meet with obstruction from the American side.

3. Owing to the fact that Chiang Kai Shek's Chief of Staff is an American general, General edemeyer, who is reported to be personally opposed to any action by the British in China directed to the re-occupation of Hong Kong, and in view of the high political issues involved, it seems essential that we should assure ourselves in advance of the support and cooperation of the United States authorities concerned in our endeavour to reach and implement an understanding with the Chinese Government about the administration of Hong Kong on its liberation similar to the arrangement between the Americans and ourselves mentioned in paragraph 2 above. If these negotiations first with the Americans and then with the Chinese were conducted through the usual channels there is a danger that they might drag on for sever months and it may therefore be thought desirable to raise the matter with President Truman while he is still here.

4.

A copy of a memorandum prepared in the Far Eastern Department on the political issue between Great Britain and China regarding Hong Kong is attached.

2914

FOREIGN OFFICE 31

July, 1945.

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