CO129-477 - Public Offices - 1922 — Page 368

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Enclosure No. 4 in No. 374 (4478/22) to Foreign office, 27/6/22 Dean's Circular No. 150 of May 26th. 1922.

The Dean has the honour to circulate herewith, for the consideration of his Honourable Colleagues, translati on of a Note from the Yai Chiao Fu with regard to the Naturali- sation Law of the Chinese Republic.

In the opinion of Fonaieu de Freitas, this Law, like the Game Law, the Famine Relief Surcharge Stamp Regula- tion and other laws and regulations promulgated by the Chinèse Government from time to time, cannot be accented in its present form and without the arrecment of the Poems c ncerned. It appears that the Chinese Government labours under the misappre- hension that their citizens, who register themselves in a few Consulates in China, have to renounce their nationality before adopting a foreign one, which, the Dean assumes, is not the case; the Chinese who apply for foreign registration (not natur- elisation) base their application on certain rights, such as for instance, those acquired by birth, and perhaps on other circumstances accentacle by the laws of any particular county The Chinese Taw cannot render null and void the provisions of Foreign Faws on this matter,

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No doubt, however, many abuses which are to be regretted - may be committed, resulting in endless disputes be- tween the Chinese authorities and the foreign Powers concerned. The Dean ventures, therefore, to suggest that a Committee be appointed to study thie question with a view to supplying the Diplomatic Body with a detailed report. If th Honourable Heads of Mission agree, the members of this Commitee will be elected at one of the ordinary Meetings of the Diplomatic Body.

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