CO129-529-5 China- extraterritoriality 23-11-1931 - 31-12-1931 — Page 119

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5. In paragraph 3 of Lord Passfield's Secret Despatch of the 9th April, 1951, it is stated that "it is proposed that His Majesty's Government shall recognise the Chinese nationality in China of persons of dual "Anglo-Chinese" nationality, on the understanding that no obstacles will be placed in the way of such persons abandoning Chinese nationality by the formal process of denationalisation and subject to a special exception in the case of transient

visitors".

I have to observe that effect has not been

given to this in the draft Treaty. The Despatch quoted continues:- "Sir Miles Lampson has also been instructed to endeavour to secure the consent of the Chinese Government to the application to British protected persons of Chinese race of any arrangement that may be agreed upon with regard to British subjects of Chinese race". The draft Treaty implements this only in regard to British protected persons not of Chinese race.

6.

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I would emphasise especially the considerations set out in paragraphs 3, 4, 6 and 7 of my Secret Despatch of the 17th July, 1931, and urge the great importance of taking this opportunity the last that may occur for a very long period of settling satisfactorily the question of dual nationality, which affects so intimately the domiciled Chinese community in Malaya. Finally, I would point out that such a settlement would strengthen the hands of the Malayan Governments in resisting the pretensions

of Chinese Consuls in Malaya to interfere on behalf of British subjects and British protected persons of Chinese race.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble servant,

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Governor