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Tel. No.-Whitehall 9400.
Any further communication on this subject should be addressed to:-
The Under-Secretary of State,
The War Office,
London, S. W.1,
and ollowing number quoted.
083/5857 (M.0.1.)
2
Sir,
!
CHEM
NORD DISA
NEW OF
RECEIVED 13ост 19324
GOL OFFICE,
THE WAR OFFICE,
LONDON, S.W.1
12 October, 1932.
In reply to your letter No.92645/32 dated 1st July, 1932, on the subject of the enrolment of, and grant of Commissions to, foreign subjects in the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps, I am commanded by the Army Council to state that they have been advised that, whilst it would be con- trary to the Act of Settlement to grant to aliens commissions as officers in the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps enlistment in the ranks d the Corps is not affected by that Act, as "enlistment" is not the enjoyment of any office or place of trust within the meaning of the Act of Settlement.
2.
I am to say that, as a general principle, the Counc il are opposed to the enlistment of aliens in Colonial Corps, but,in view of the special conditions existing in Hong Kong, they are prepared to agree to the enrolment of a limited number of aliens which, in the case of the Army Service Corps Cadre, they suggest should not exceed fifty per cent of the strength of the unit.
3.
With regard to the four officers of the Portuguese companies who are "local" Portuguese and therefore non- British subjects, the Council consider that it would be most undesirable from a military point of view to call upon them to resign their commissions Since their position can apparently only be legally regularised by their becoming British subjects, I am to suggest that that course might be considered.
The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office,
Downing Street,
S.W., 1.
I am,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
Allliddos