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arrangement, the local Chinese authorities knew nothing
about it.
14.
If it is now decided that we should abandon further
attempts at reaching a formal agreement with the Chinese
authorities on this question, it remains for consideration
whether we should take any further steps in the matter of
recognising the dual nationality of these British subjects
of Chinese race and consequently their status as Chinese
citizens in China. I note from Sir Cecil Clementi's despatch
to the Colonial Office of September 26th above referred to
that it is now the practice to inform Anglo-Chinese
proceeding to China from Malaya that because of their dual
nationality they cannot claim the protection of His
Majesty's Consuls in China unless and until they have taken
steps to denationalise themselves in accordance with
Chinese law.
This warning seems fully to meet the case
and goes far to dispose of the whole question so far as
His Majesty's Legation and Consulates in China are concerned.
It is for consideration whether I should not now be authorised
to instruct His Majesty's Consuls to take the same line
and to warn British subjects of Chinese race upon
registration (if such registration is to be continued)
that they cannot claim British protection against the
Chinese authorities in China unless they have secured
denationalisation certificates in accordance with Chinese
law. This would in fact amount to little more than
regularising
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