Hongkong is the most valuable British asset in China, and British be largely based on, the needs' of Hongkong, said Sir Cecil Clement, former Governor of Hongkong, In 2 speech at a luncheon to-day given bY the Royal Empire Society.
'Sir Cecil strongly -erieized the Foreign Office, which in 1925, he stated, clung' desperately to' the {lusion that" Peiping somehow governed all China and forced Dr. Sun Yat-ren, who wished to be friends with Hongkong, into. the arms. of Russia, who embroiled Canton and Hongkong, culminating in a disastrotts boycott snd the loss of millions of! money.
'"T most earnestly hope," Sir Cecil proceeded, "that we take a warning from the past and donot again sacrifice Hongkong (o illusion, Nature, herself has dictated very' close, intimate and friendly ce-operation between Hongkong, Canton and the teeming t..aons of Kuangtung, wh> are very industrious, capable' and peace-loving people."
The speaker laid stress on the need. for a solution of three problems:
The Kowloon-Canton and, Cantor Hankow rollways must be linkd@. Can= ton never can be a deepen. port and ered by the deni Mongkone. "similarly. netop! the Interior at China must full use of the excellent aeredror Kowloon; 'A. Cusioms cereement Is Imperative, under which Honskeong woud collect duties on goods destined for China: and "The ful tire ofthe leased. Kowloon new territory must be ded Uncertainty. ae The avestlon Impeding the progress of devi "Either the new territory must remain British In. perpetuity," declared Sir Cectl, "or the Colony itself will have to be given back to China, T see no other solution."
He appealed fo his audience to support. the Hongkong University. which, he said, was greatly impeded by the Tack of an adequate ender
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.