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[CYPHER]

6242;

DEPARTMENTAL NO.1.

3

FROM CHUNGKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE.

Sir H. Seymour.

3rd September 1945.

No. 1012

IMPORTANT.

1945

D. 10.04 a.m. GMT. 3rd September, 1945.

R. 11.35 p.m. BST. 3rd September,1945.

£ £ £ £ £

5317/147/10.

F6239/1147/10

Your telegram No. 945 and my immediately preceding telegram.

The question of Chinese Consulate at Hong Kong is bound, to come up soon though we can put it off so long as the military government continues.

2. As you know the Chinese Government will in any.case have their own agents in Hong Kong. Is it not better to have a Consul whose functions are clearly understood and who can be pulled up if he goes beyond them rather than unofficial or occasional agents who may well be more difficult to deal with? I very much hope that you will agree to the Chinese being told that they will be able to appoint a Consul when the civil government takes over. In the meantime the Hong Kong proposal for a liaison officer should tide things over. But if we refuse Chinese application for a consulate when it comes, I feel sure that we shall be preparing trouble for ourselves here. is a blessed word in China to-day.

Reciprocity

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XI

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XII

1945

I I

F.O. REGISTRY

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