In any further communication
on this subject, please quote
10.
F 5784/2396/10.
and address-
not to any person by name
but to-
The Under-Secretary of State,"
Foreign Office,
London, S.W.1.
Juhofen
RECEIVED
Sir,
FOREIGN OFFICE.
S.W.1.
33.
104
- 4 SEP 1937 C. O. REGY
2nd September, 1937.
27.
With reference to your letter No. 53838/2/37 of
the 27th August, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Eden to
inform you that he is unable to agree at present to the
suggestion that in approved cases and subject to suitable
guarantees of repayment individuals should be repatriated
from Hong Kong to the United Kingdom at the expense of
His Majesty's Government.
2.
In this connexion, I am to explain that in
accordance with the regulations governing the relief of
distressed British subjects abroad, repatriation can only
be undertaken in cases of destitution and against an
undertaking to repay on demand the expenditure incurred.
In Mr. Eden's opinion, this condition is not fulfilled
in the case of the refugees at Hong Kong as it would not
be correct to describe as destitute persons who are being
maintained at the expense of His Majesty's Government,
even though such maintenance is being provided against an
undertaking to repay the cost. In these circumstances,
Mr. Eden would prefer to await developments in Shanghai
for the present, in the hope that an amelioration of the
situation will permit of the return to Shanghai of a
considerable number of refugees.
The Under-Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.
I am,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
Cw. Orde