CO129-571-13 Sino-Japanese War- internment of Chinese soldiers 5-12-1938 - 11-1-1939 — Page 11

In any further communication

on this subject, please quote

F 13639/816/10.

and address-

not to any person by name

but to-

"The Under-Secretary of State,"

Foreign Office,

London, S.W.1.

2chupls.

FOREIGN OFFICE.

S. W. 1.

4th January, 1939.

1)

4

Sir,

With reference to Colonial Office letter No.53838/35/38

of the 22nd December last, regarding the disposal of

Chinese who have been disarmed and interned at Hong Kong,

I am directed by Viscount Halifax to inform you that he

agrees with the view expressed by Mr. Secretary Macdonald

in paragraph 2 of the Colonial Office letter under reference.

2. Lord Halifax is further of the opinion that it

would be highly undesirable to permit the Chinese in question

to return to China, since this might encourage the use of

Hong Kong as an asylum by members of the Chinese or

Japanese forces and thus lead to the development of an

impossible situation. He would therefore suggest that the

men should be detained under guard in an internment camp for

the duration of the present hostilities at the expense of

the Government of Hong Kong.

3. Copies of this letter are being sent to the War

Office, Admiralty and Air Ministry.

I am,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

лювиаль

The Under-Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.