CO129-477 - Public Offices - 1922 — Page 512

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The anomaly by which a Chinese Citizen, holding a Com- miccion, sanctioned by the Provincial Authorities, as Commnudar of a wiformed and armed force in Chin, is at the same time registered as a British Subject in virtue solely of the fact that his mother was in Poung when the gave birth to him, is abundantly obvious. Choah Ngoh Oh's is admittedly an extreme cape, but the attitude recently adopted by the Mixed Court in Shanghai, and I 1.cll

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by the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs here in the case of Khoo Boon eng (plozon son my despatch No. 42 of August 18th Inst), shows that the Chinono Authorities themselves are paying closer attention to this voxed question of dual nationality.

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I have the honour to submit a suggestion that the quastion might parlaps be solved by the cancellation of the

instructions contained in your Circular No. 31 of June 5th

(3834/22), and by extending to China the provisions of Section 25 of Chapter XXV of the Now Edition of the General Instruction to His Majesty's Consular Officers.

I am not aware of the reasons for excepting China from the scope of the general instructions on this question, but there is little doubt that the favourable treatment accorded to this class of British Subjects does not result in any tangible advai tage to British Imperial interests, and that the abolition of this spacial treatment would have the result of terminating one of the present growing sources of friction betwem the Chinese Authorities and British Consular Officers in this country.

I am forwarding copies of thin dospatch, and of trans- lations of its enclosures, to His Majonty's Consular Officers

at Shaughni, Carton and Swatow.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient,

humble Servant,

(Signed) A.E.Bautos.

H. B, M. Consul.