334
claiming the good offices of His Majesty's
consuls.
6.
Sir F.Lugard appears to think that
if a naturalised British subject divests
himself of Chinese nationality in accordance
with the Chinese law he would then become
entitled to protection in China; but Mr.
Harcourt has considerable doubt upon the
subject, since the naturalisation is only
effective in the naturalising Colony.
In any case, however, he considers that as
a matter of policy it would be desirable
to claim the right to protect naturalized
subjects in any negotiations which may
take place, as a means of securing con-
cessions from China in regard to the
other classes of Chinese British sub-
jects
7.
about whose statues there is less doubt.
The second class mentioned by the
Governor is that of the children born in
RAFT.
subjects to be protected in China, pro-
vided that they have not resided in China
for any considerable period, that they
were born subsequently to the naturaliza
tion of the parent, and that they do not
claim the benefits of Chinese and British
nationality concurrently. In theory
all such persons are British subjects,
but it appears to Mr.Harcourt that
unless they avail themselves of the
Chinese law to divest themselves of
8.
their Chinese nationality, they must be
regarded as possessing/dual nationality.
r.Harcourt is not disposed to
accept unconditionally Sir F.Lugard's
reshed. proposals in this regard. While admit-
ting that long residence in China, else-
where than in a treaty port, may be
accepted as showing the absence of the
animus manendi, he considers that it
would not be advisable to make any con-
HongKong (or another Colony) of Chinese
parents naturalised in the Colony. Sir F.
Lugard would regard such persons as British
subjects
cession before negotiations take place.
As
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