CO129-540-1 Enrolment of foreign nationals to Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps 31-3-1932 - 19-1-1933 — Page 20

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domiciled in the Far East, and differing from "British

Portuguese" of whom there are a number in the Corps, only

in the fact that they were not born in Hong Kong.

are the only non-British subjects in the Corps.

They

4. It is now desired to enlist other aliens in the

Army Service Corps Cadre and to give commissioned rank to

one who is of Chinese race with United States

citizenship. This cadre differs from the other units of the Corps in that it is not directly combatant, and also

in the form of declaration (see form No. 3 in Government

Notification No.749 of 23rd December, 1927, copy enclosed}

which is taken by its members on enrolment. This

declaration would permit of the release from service in the

Cadre of the nationals of any state, should circumstances

arise rendering it undesirable for them to remain members.

5. The Army Service Corps Cadre has had assigned to

it important duties in the event of a state of emergency

arising. It is therefore essential that it should be

brought up to strength, and, without the enrolment of

aliens who it is contemplated might comprise slightly

more than half the total, this will be a matter of the

greatest difficulty. It is believed that a number of

Germans, Dutch, Americans and others would readily join

and that there would be no objection from their Consuls.

6.

A necessary corollary to their enlistment as

private soldiers, is the grant to them, if efficient, of

a limited number of commissions.

7. I should be glad if the matter might be

referred to the War Office, and your decision communicated

to

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