CO129-365 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1910 [1-3] — Page 585

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45-383

possessions.

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3.

In view of the instruction con-

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-tained in Your Lordship's telegram of the 25th. ultimo

in which you directed me to make no admission as to the

status of the inhabitants of the New Territories, I am not

sure whether this decision is to be regarded as final. If

it is to be so regarded, I have to point out that it

leaves matters in a very unsatisfactory position, for it

will clothe the inhabitants of the New Territories with a

dual nationality and they must, I presume,

be regarded as

British Subjects when on British soll and as Chinese

Subjects when on Chinese soil. Intercourse between the

portion of the New Territories situated on the mainland

and the Chinese Territory across the frontier, which was

formerly part of the same Chinese District, is of daily

occurrence; and a difficulty has already arisen in connect-

-ion with the trial of Liang Tou. Certain witnesses who are

natives of the New Territories have to be sent to Nam Tau,

the neighbouring Chinese Town where the Chinese District

Magistrate resides: but it so happens that these witnesses

tragen alleged

are wanted by the Chinese Authorities för offences in China,

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If then in crossing the frontier into Chinese Territory

they become Chinese subjects they may be seized and detain-

-ed,