Copy.
British Consulate,
Tamsul (Formosa).
May 26th 1920.
498
Dear Colonel Gunn,
Many thanks for your letter of May 20th regarding visas for Japanese Formosan subjects. The reply of the Colonial Secretary to your letter does not assist very much. One is left with the impression that the Hong Kong authorities are content to overlook a practice which is obviously illegal I mean the practice of the steamship companies of entering Formosans in the passenger fists as "Chinese" in order to get round the passport regulations.
The question which presente itself is whether I should make a fuss here about this irregularity or let the matter pass?
The latter is the line of leaat resistance and is naturally attractive, more especially in a place like Formosa, becas e a weekly passenger steamer goes to Hong Kong from Takow (250 miles from here) in addition to those from Keelung with which I should have no difficulty in dealing.
The only thing which makes me hesitate is the fact that (if I interpret the twice-repeated doubling of the visa fee correctly), H.M.G. are now regarding the visa from the revenue producing standpoint and, with the fee at Yen 5.00 we may well be dropping a good deal of money.
Will you be so kind as to give me your opinion. Perhaps you would also show the correspondence to Embassy and see what they think.
Yours sincerely,
Lieut. Colonel A. A. Gunn.
Yokohama.
(Sgd) P.A.Butler.
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