CO537-4801 — Page 48

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INWARD TELEGRAM

This document must be paraphrased if the communication of its contents to any person outside Government Service is authorised.

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TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES

COPY FOR PECISTRATION

FROM HONG KONG (Six A. Grantham)

D. 20th June, 1949.

Ro

**

30

08.55 hrs.

No.608

20th

Secret.

(5) Your telegram No.673

Registration.

RECEIVED

21 JUN 1949 COLONIAL OFFICE

Referun

The position as regards registration here was explained to and discussed with the Minister of Defence.

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General registration would be meaningless without immigration control which would entall serious political and economie repercussions as described in R453 enclosure 2 to my top secret despatch No.15 and I am

unwilling to enforce it unless absolutely necessary.

R453 ||

3.

In any case general registration could not be instituted all at once and I am therefore instituting urgently a partial registration scheme which will provide a basis and machinery for general registration should it become necessary.

4. This partial registration will be effected in phases, the first of which will be the registration of the population in employment. Succeeding phases will include the registration of

be m

(a) Holders of miscellaneous licences.

Other than rice,

Sue (10)

(2).

(b) Persons rationed for ring and other foodstuffs.

(c) Residents in the New Territories.

(d) The junk population.

Each of these phases includes registration of

dependenta in the Colony.

Once the actual process of registration starts, and I hope this will be before the end of August, I estimate thet approximately one million persons can be registerel within six months, The matter is of course regarded as one of great urgency and I am examining the question of further speeding up the whole proc988. Approximate cost vill be about one million dollars for one million persons.

6.

The registration of residents in the New Territories will be in addition to the simple police "Pass" registration already instituted in the New Territories to which wor telegram No.151 to Commissioner General Singapore refers, This "Pass" registration will in addition be extended to cover employees in essential Government offices and utilities.

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Answers are being prepared to questions

No. (1) - (3) in your telegram under reference and further communication will be sent to you as soon as possible.

4 copies Joh. RW. Searlett (Fo.)