HONGKONG QUESTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25289, 24 August 1945, Page 7

HONGKONG QUESTION

CHINA TAKES SURRENDER THE BRITISH ATTITUDE (Reed, 11.10 p.m.) LONDON, Anj?. 23 The question of Hongkong would be discussed at the coming meeting in London between the Foreign Ministers of Britain, the United States, Russia, China and France, said the United States Secretary of State, Mr J. F. Byrnes, at a press conference in Washington. It is pointed out in London that the British Foreign Office had no previous knowledge of this. Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday on this subject, the Foreign Secretary, Mr Ernest Bevin. said: "L am sure that, in agreement with our Chinese and American Allies, our territory will bo returned to us." It is expected that tlie Japanese surrender in Hongkong will he received there bv Chinese generals. The commander "of the Allied land forces in China, General Wedetneyer, said today that the British and Chinese Governments are now negotiating about, whose forces will occupy the city alter its formal surrender. Chinese troops are occupying Hongkong under the surrender terms, according to an earlier Chungking report. The British authorities in Chungking deelined to comment. A Chinese Army spokesman said Hongkong was in tl\e China theatre, and the High Command naturally assumed responsibility to accept the Japanese surrender there. A Chinese Foreign Office spokesman stated that Generalissimo Chiang Kaishek was considering the whole issue and expected to announce his decision in a few days. • . The Chinese chose General Fah Weichang to receive the surrender of Hongkong. CELEBES AND LUZON (Herd. 11.10 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 23 A Tokvo broadcast says that in the Celebes Japanese officers and troops are not attempting any resistance. In the Philippines several thousand Japanese troops in Northern Luzon surrendered yesterday, although they took some convincing that the war was over. The Japanese in other areas of the Philippines aUo are expected to give up soon.