Under-Secretary of State.
Colonial Office
F. 5193/177/10.
Decypher.
•
RECEIVED 10DEC 1940 CONFIDENTIAL
With Bar
Under beobulary
for Foreign Affairs
7 DEC 1910
40
2.2
DEPARTMENTAL NO. 2.
4th December, 1940. 4th December, 1940.
5th December, 1940.
Sir A. Clark Kerr, (Chungking).
D.
8.00 p.m.
R.
1.45 p.m.
No. 248.
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35
Addressed to Hong Kong telegram No. 128 December 4th.
Your telegram No. 769 to the Colonial Office.
The Chinese Government's objections were, I think, based partly on a vague and deep seated mistrust of the phrase "Immigration Control" and partly on the fears that Hong Kong's usefulness to their war effort might be impaired by the proposed measures, the nature of which they had no precise knowledge.
Now that I have communicated to them the text of the bill with an explanation on the lines of your telegram No. 170 (not to London) I think their doubts will be set at rest, But, as 22 I said in my telegram No. 161 to the Foreign Office, much will
depend on the efficient and sympathetic administration of the
measures.
Repeated to Foreign Office.