solonial Office
F98/98/10
૧
Decypher
and
With the Curepiments
Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
- 8 JAN 1941
DEPARTMENTAL No. 2.
52
14
Decode.
Sir A. Clark Kerr (Chungking)
6th January, 1941.
D.
7.25 p.m.
6th January, 1941.
R.
3.45 a.m.
7th January, 1941.
No. 8
ns Get
IMMEDIATE R begins.
46
:-:
:-:
Colonial Office telegram No. 805 to Hong Kong.
Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs asks me to transmit to you the following observations on Hong Kong emigration ordinance with urgent request that its application be postponed pending discussion between Chinese Government and His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.
2. Possession of valid passport or other paper does not necessarily imply permission to land (2nd proviso of section G) (2) Visa requirement under section 10 D is inequitable since British subjects entering China from Hong Kong are not required to obtain Chinese viaas. (3) Maximum 250 Hong Kong dollars under section 13 (2) is regarded as excessive; (4) Fees specified in schedule for certificates of residence, entry permits and frontier passes appear excessive; (5) Fact that entry permits are issued in Hong Kong alone will involve hardship for Chinese whose presence in the Colony is demanded by pressing business since present state of communications in China makes it extremely difficult for many people, especially in occupied territory, to apply for and obtain a passport and requisite visa from the British Consul, and applicants for. entry permits from up country districts would inevitably take a long time; (6) Minister for Foreign Affairs also argues on general grounds that any measures tending to restrict entry and residence of Chinese must be contrary to the best interests of Hong Kong.
R ends.
3. I should be grateful if these points could be given urgent consideration and early instructions sent me as to reply With reference to point 5, am I right in thinking that Chinese will be able to obtain entry permits on arrival at Hong Kong without prior application? If so only one of Minister for Foreign Affairs' points which seems to me to have merit is the second. We have arrangement with Chinese of which I have no details here) whereby British residents of Hong Kong are exempt from Chinese visa requirements. This was made when there
was
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.