CO537-4802 — Page 21

C.O

Draft

*

*SAVINGRAM:

* The word Priority may be entered here, if necessary.

TELEGRAM/

To:--

Mr. Sidebotham 30/5/49.

Mr..

Mr.

Mr.

Repeated to:—

GOVERNOR,

HONG KONG,

Sir C

chaffey 30%

Permt. U.S. of S.

XParly U.S. of Sawm

Priority:-

Nil.

Reply urgently required. Important.

Immediate.

File No.

54064/1/49

9

Recyphared o

Sent.

0.2. P.

08.00

hours.

1.6.

·1949.

To be transmitted :—

No.

RA. 652

In Clearx

£ortex

Cypher 0.T.P.

Restrictedx

Confidential

Secret Secret

Top Secretx

and Personak

* S. of S.

ая

Most Immediate.

365

(5)

In

I know of course that you have

these matters

constantly in

mund

Distribution:-

Further action:-

and

(6)

Ann's (12)

Your telegram No. 514, paragraph 4.

Chinese refugees.

1. Ministers have noted with concern steadily

mounting influx of refugees into Hong Kong, and have

expressed anxiety as to-

2.

increasing danger of Communist

infiltrationz and effect in

ability of Hong Kong to cope with

situation if further substantial

increases incur.

I am aware of your plans for closing the

frontier in certain circumstances, and the proposed

introduction of a registration system to enable

movements of individuals to be checked and closer

control exercised Your recent telegram to Deputy

Commissioner-General Colonial Affairs, Singapore,

repeated to me in his telegram No. 151, refers)

3. But to enable me to answer enquiries here I

should be grateful for an overall appreciation of the

Chinese refugee position and, in particular, to learn

what you consider, in round figures, absorption limit

for refugees is, and how soon you consider this figure

is likely to be reached, making closure of the

t. 21408/757 10m 7.48 Wa. & Co. 51/3

/ frontier