CO129-427 - Public Offices - 1915 — Page 251

246A

There now remains for consideration the case of

ich of the Hongkong "undesirables' as may have mic-

seeded in having themselves registered at shanghai

efore the abope instructions come into force.

The se

could, i think, best be dealt with by allowing iis hajesty's Consular officers to use their discretion no suggested in the Forcin office letter to the Col-

anial office of Day 7th, quoted in your despatch un-

der reply.

All other 'undesirable:* not having the Hongkong

british born certificate and consequently not being

registered mill thus automatically lose all claim to

protection, and I am of opinion that ritish protec-

tion should in no circumstances be extended to unre-

gistered Chinese. The instructions given above

give a reasonably fair test of Lenuine .ritish natí

ality and it does not appear to me desirable, or

indeed fair to the Chinese Goverment that the

leges