9
same fluctuating character as in Hong Kong,
and I imagine that it is generally much easier
to establish whether or not a Chinese is a
british subject. The essential things seem
to be that in order to please the Home Office
the entry of Malayan Chinese into this country
ak
should not be facilited, but that at the same
time they should not be made dependent for
facilities to travel anywhere outside Malaya on
the issue of Chinese passports. I should imagine
that some extension of the system of travel
certificates as issued by Hong Kong might offer
a solution. I believe, but am not sure, that
some such certificates are issued by Hong Kong
Hang Khang
for Chinese wishing to visit China. I
presume that similar certificates could be issued by the Malayan Governments (though it will be necessary to ensure that such certifi- cates would be recognised by british Consuls in China, so long as we attempt to maintain any
These people remnant of our rights of protection over them). I do not see why such certificates should not
be issued also for travel to other countries,
though we could not guarantee that they would be of very much use, as foreign countries might
decline to take any notice of them.
One of our difficulties is that we
do not know what actually happens now when a
British subject of Chinese race in Malaya wants
to travel abroad, and we should have to consult
with the Governor about the actual mechanism.
I think however that we should try to get the
Foreign Office to agree to our exploring the
possibilities of a solution on these lines,
emphasising