CO537-4802 — Page 13

OUTWARD TELEGRAM

FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES

or

Dp 54064/49

Cypher (0.to P.)

TO HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)

Sent 10th December, 1949 14.00 hrs.

No. 1793 Secret

30.

Your telegram No. 566.

Immigration Control and Chinese Refugees.

On the basis of figures goven in your telegram under reference and in subsequent weekly intelligence telegrams, it would appear that a further 50,000 or so persons can be absorbed in the Colony before facilities are strained to the utmost. In view of your telegram No. 1264 however the position is not entirely clear and I should be grateful for confirmation that such a further increase in population can be accepted and that your intention is to operate the recently imposed visa controls and take further action as necessary to prevent this limit being exceeded.

In this connection you have reported in your telegrams Nos. 1250 and 1298 the action you envisage as regards Macao. As regards Canton I have noted the reports in paragraphs 7 and 10 of your telegram No. 1295 and should be glad to know whether you expect to have to introduse entry control as envisaged in your telegram No. 1010 or otherwise regulate entry across the frontier.