CO129-543-16 China- protection for Anglo-Chinese 13-2-1933 - 13-3-1934 — Page 7

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British subjects of Chinese race provided that

transient visitors might receive protection up to

a maximum of six months and that certificates of

denationalization under the Chinese Nationality Law

would not be unreasonably withheld. In February

1933, the Chinese Government definitely rejected

these proposals on the ground that the protection

of transient visitors was contrary to the Chinese

Nationality Law and therefore unacceptable. Sir

Miles Lampson then proposed that a clean cut should

be made, that H. M. G. should tacitly recognise the

principles of the Chinese Nationality Law, which

would mean that protection would only be afforded in

China to those British subjects of Chinese race who

had taken out denationalization certificates.

Anglo-Chinese proceeding to China from Malaya are

already warned that they cannot claim the protection

of His Majesty's Consuls in China unless they have

been denationalized under Chinese law, and Sir Miles Lampson suggested that British Consuls in China

should be instructed to adopt a similar policy,

and to treat Anglo-Chinese who are not formally

denationalized in all respects as Chinese citizens in

This view was supported by the Foreign Office

and has been accepted by Malaya and Hong Kong.

This decision implies the abandonment

China.

of any claim to exercise protection over non-

denationalized transient visitors. The Foreign

Office suggested that in future these persons should

continue in general to receive the good offices of

British Consuls, but they would presumably not be

registered

In