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always decline to consider any representations from
persons within his jurisdiction which are advanced through
such unauthorized and irregular channels.
I hesitate however to act in accordance with this
request until I can receive Your Lordship's instructions
as to whether the Chinese persons concerned are, as the
Governor of Hongkong maintains, subjects of His Majesty
or not.
The word in the Chinese text which was translated
would perhaps be more accurately rendered by
"inhabitant”. It appears that Sir Matthew Nathan's
reply to me is based on the fact that the Chinese
concerned are natives of the leased territory, whom he
regards as British subjects.
The question therefore appears to be
whether the leasing of territory for a term of years operates in the
case of Wei-hai-Wei to effect a transfer of the allegiance
of the inhabitants?
I am unable to find any
authority for an answer in the affirmative.
The only direct mention of inhabitants in the lease