CO537-6314 — Page 48

INWARD TELEGRAM

TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES

53

4452

Турех

COPY FOR REGISTRATION

FROM HONG KONG (0.A.G.)

D. 9th October 1950. R. 9th

**

08.00 hrs.

PRIORITY

No. 1149

Secret.

Addressed to S. of S.

Repeated to Peking, No. 169.

要

10

Tamsui, No. 65 (S. of S. please pass to Peking and Tamsui).

Begins.

Your telegram 593.

Nationalist Refugees.

RECEIVED

2 OCT 1950 COLONIAL OFFICE

Numbers now amount to nearly 7,000 comprising approximately 5,100 males, 900 females and 1,000 children 16 and under. Apart from political embarrassment of their presence we are thus presented with a serious financial problem.

2

I have taken opportunity of visit H.M. Consul Tamsui to discuss with him possibilities of inducing nationalist authorities in Formosa to co-operate in the matter. In the past few weeks some 190 of these refugees have obtained entry into Formosa as individuals and Formosan Press indicates that more may similarly be granted admittance. Biggs feels it would be possible for him to make discreet enquiries whether this process is likely to develop on any considerable scale.

3. If this is not the case however a more formal approach would be necessary and in this event Biggs considers that while nationalist authorities might now agree to accept some of these refugees they would only be willing to take those who were politically acceptable, able bodies and likely to be of some use to them. In order to make their selection they would probably wish to send investigation party here. I consider this definitely undesirable as party's presence would attract attention and they might well seek to recruit other pro nationalist elements during their stay. It should moreover be quite possible for adequate selection process to be applied by persons already in the Colony.

4. There is thus some possibility of problem being at least partially aclved by these means.

Before any action is taken by Consul Tamsui, however, it may be felt that further attempt should be made to obtain reply to representations made several months ago in Peking.

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