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REC
REO 21 MAY 17
LEGRAL from the Governor of Hon Kong to the Secretars!
of State for the Colonies. Dated 19th Lay. (Received Colonial Office 12.8 p.m. 19th Day, 1917)
Wo General. 211FF
With reference to your telegram 8th Day in
swer to first question? 375. To second under policy
itherto adopted reduction of staffs to minimm but no
interference with existing business irrespective of
ature and Imperial importance 75 more men of British parentage and military age fit for active service could be obtained under compulsion. If compulsion more widely applied to not essential businesses125 men could be obtained without involving serious interference with
eneral trade of Colony. If drastic compulsion applied involving interference with general trade of Colony and
depleting staffs Public Works Department Education Sanitary Departments and University from 200 250 te obtained. If Portuguese and Eurasian acceptable about fifty could be obtained without interfering with trade of Colony they might be useful for labour attalion
MAY