FO371-46253 — Page 126

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WRITTEN

IN

THIS MARGIN.

Minutes.

F 5970

The following question

104

$-being put to-day to the Prime Minis29 By Mr Jinston Churchill:

"Are H.M.G. taking action to restore the British administration in Hong Kong as soon as they receive a Japanese surrender in this Colony?"

The proposed Answer already agreed between the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Colonial Secretary is as follows:

"Yes Sir. As stated by the Foreign Secretary on Monday, arrangements are being made for the Japanese surrender in Hong Kong to be accepted by a British Force Commander. Plans for re-establishing British administratior in the Colony are fully prepared.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke is expected to ask a Supplementary Question to the following effect:

"Whether the Prime Minister has any statement to make on the United States report that the question of Hong Kong will be discussed at the forthcoming Conference of Foreign Ministers in London?"

Mr. Allison of the U.S. Embassy has just communicated to me the text of the record of Mr. Byrnes' press conference on this subject as sent to them by the State Department in an unofficial radio bulletin. It will be seen that Mr. Byrnes' statement was of a general nature and, while it does not exclude discussion of Hong Kong by the Council of Foreign Ministers, it does not propose such discussion or indicate an intention to raise it at the forthcoming meeting of the Council.

The Colonial Office have asked us to supply the answer to the anticipated Supplementary Question. I would suggest the following:

to

"I will only say that statements at press conferences are sometimes misapplied or exaggerated. There is, so far as I am aware, no justification for the discussion of this British territory by the Council of Foreign Ministers, nor have H.M.G. received any notification of an intention to include it in the agenda of the forthcoming meeting

that

of

body"

Tre. Stundate Bennett.

Aug 23

The F.gs., whom it was

consult before the question

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not possible

put,

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