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verbatim report of the proceedings, which took the
shape of an informal discussion, and which
unfortunately did not result in any definitely
formulated recommendations.
Subsequently, I
invited Sir Shou-son Chow, Dr. Kotewall and
Dr. Ts'o, the three Chinese members of the Hong Kong
Legislative Council, to confer with me in person,
in order that I might understand exactly what they
recommend; and I now submit for Your Lordship's
consideration the views which, after mature
reflection, I have arrived at on this subject.
2. All Chinese, of either sex, who were
resident in Hong Kong island on the 26th of January, 1841, when the British flag was first hoisted over
it, or in Old Kowloon on the 19th of January, 1861,
the day on which that peninsula was formally
handed over to Great Britain, or in the New
Territories of the Colony on the 16th of April, 1899,
when the British flag was hoisted at Taipo, are
British subjects and will, as such, be protected in
all parts of the world except in China. In China
they should be given British protection, only if
they denationalize themselves or if, being transient
visitors, they register themselves at a British
✓ Consulate in the manner described later on.
3. All children of either sex, born in
British territory, of these original inhabitants are
British subjects and will, as such, be protected in
all parts of the world, except in China. In China
they