CO129-426 - Public Offices - 1915 — Page 217

知

Toyor

(87983/14).

213

14

a definite principle to work upon, and there only re-

mains for consideration the case of such of the Hongkong

undesirables as may have succeeded in having themselves

registered at Shanghai before the new instructions come

into force. These could, Sir E. Grey thinks, best be

dealt with by allowing His Majesty's Consul General to

use his discretion as suggested in the passage in the

Foreign Office letter to the Colonial Office of the 7th

of way last quoted In Sir J.Jordan's present despatch.

All other "undesirables" not having the Hongkong

British born certificate, and consequently not being

registered would thus automatically lose all claim to

protection. Sir E. Grey considers that British pro-

tection should in no circumstances be extended to un-

registered Chinese. The Consular instructions under

discussion would give a reasonably fair test of genuine

British nationality for registration, and it does not

appear desirable, or indeed fair to the Chinese Govern-

ment