CO129-540-1 Enrolment of foreign nationals to Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps 31-3-1932 - 19-1-1933 — Page 9

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The Portuguese companies

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Solution of the supposed difficulty about the four Portugese officers.

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(7)

Sir,

RECEIVE.

17 FEB1933

COL. OFFIC

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG, 19th January, 1933.

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of

your secret despatch of 27th October, 1932, on the subject of the enrolment of, and the grant of commissions to, foreign subjects in the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps, and to inform you that the enlistment of aliens in the Army Service Corps cadre up to fifty per cent of the

strength of the unit is considered satisfactory. It is

noted that commissions as officers in the Defence Corps

may not be granted to aliens.

2.

It has since been ascertained that the four

officers of the Portuguese companies previously stated to

be "local" Portuguese and therefore non-British subjects

are in fact British subjects. In the case of two of

them there is evidence of dual nationality, but the

Attorney General states that it is an accepted principle

that a person with dual nationality whilst within the

territory of one of his national states is treated as a

national of that State. I regret that the information concerning them given in my despatch No.165 of 31st

March, 1932, was incorrect.

9

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

Your most obedient, humble servant,

SIR P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER, G.B.E., M.C., M.P.,

Lotul

Governor, &c.

&c.,

&C.,

&c.

ge 10

ge 10

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