0014
30° d
Extract from a Confidential Memorandum enclosed
Jacer
in a despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong, on 30026/2744
X
dated 22nd July 1927.
X
X
하
99
"His Majesty's Goverment are prepared to
recognise the validity of a reasonable Chinese
nationality law."
It cannot unfortunately be denied that the
adherence of the Foreign Powers to the "jus soli" in
the matter of nationality has at times been exploited
in no creditable fashion by persons of Chinese race who
have sought foreign registration simply with the object
of securing the foreigner's privileges or immunities
while engaged in transactions of an entirely Chinese
character. It must also be admitted that for the great
bulk of "overseas Chinese" China remains their
spiritual home. It will take many decades, if not
centuries, for modern scepticism to kill the Chinese
belief in the living continuity of the family of which "ancestor worship" is the outward manifestation.
very ten employed to describe "overseas Chinese" indicates that they regard themselves as "sojourners" in
a strange land whence they hope some day to returnto
their home-country. But there is a distinct class among these "sojourners" which has formed a positive
attachment to its country of adoption and desires to
claim British nationality not as a convenient addition
to, but in substitution for, Chinese. We consider it essential that any agreement with China regarding the
nationality
The
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.