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37
I
in all cases before protection is given in China
to persons of Chinese race who are British subjects
only by reason of the fact that they themselves or
their parents were born in British territory.
agree with Sir Shouson Chow and Dr. Kotewall in
thinking that, if this preliminary is insisted upon,
very few Chinese in Hong Kong in proportion to its
population would be likely to apply for registration
as British subjects, in order to obtain British
protection in China.
5.
Finally, I consider that this process of divestment should be declared to be unnecessary in
the case of persons of Chinese race authenticated as born in British territory of parents and grandparents similarly born.
6. The position would then be that, subject
of course to registration in the appropriate British consulates in China, we should protect in China the following British subjects of Chinese race, viz:- (a) those authenticated as born in British
territory of parents and grandparents similarly born:
(b) those authenticated as born in British
territory of parents similarly born, provided they publicly and definitely renounce Chinese nationality and declare their allegiance to the British Crown:
(c) those authenticated as themselves born in British territory, but whose parents were not British subjects, provided they publicly and definitely renounce Chinese nationality and declare their allegiance to the British Crown:
(d) those naturalized as British subjects, provided they publicly and definitely renounce
Chinese