§ LORD CHARLES BERESFORDI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the report of a speech delivered by Lord Cross at a public meeting in Yorkshire, in which he 1553 is reported to have said that the Government were determined if necessary to secure the territory behind Hong-kong in order that that base should be adequately defended from the land side; and whether that statement embodies the definite policy of the Government with regard to Hong-kong?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI cannot think that my noble Friend ever doubted that it was our policy to see that the defences of Hong-kong were not jeopardised.