CO129-589-19 Evacuation- refusals 3-6-1941 - 2-8-1941 — Page 20

Cypher Telegram

20

54058/3/41 7.2

COPY FOR REGISTRATION

Received

in

FROM: TO:

FROM HONG KONG

In

Registry

17 JUL 194;

Governor (Sir G. Northcote)

Secretary of State for the Colonies.

D. 16th July, 1941.

R. 16th 19

19.20 hrs.

FS el

Unnumbered.

5.

No. 578.

224/3/21/11/40

Part

? June.

Your telegram i 26th commenting on my telegram

I regret delay in reply, but have only recently received answers to enquiries regarding compulsory inoculation against cholera. Deputy Director of Health Services comments that the protective value of anti-cholera inoculation is not certainly proved, especially in the case of under-nourished population. In forwarding this, Director of Medical Services points out that on the basis of only two inoculations,

inoculations, yearly, additional staff as follows would be necessary: 1 Health Officer in Charge 10 Health Officers 40 nurses 20 clerks: estimates cost between $450,000 to $500,000: while not minimising the value of anti-cholera inoculations in general, he does not recommend course suggested. In these circumstances G.O.C. does not favour the proposed measure.

Your 3rd paragraph.

he

I agree, though I venture to

say that comment does not quite meet my point.

Your paragraph 5. I am not sure how fully you are aware of the strength and extent of anti-evacuation feeling here. One of the principal cries is "discrimination", and in my opinion if attempt is made to expel these women, several of whom are in full time employment, while those who defied the Government successfully last year remain here, there will be accusation of victimisation and widespread condemnation of Government action. So far as Europeans are concerned local term "discrimination" has two applications:

(1) to exemptions made here in June and July last year

(2) to inferred preferential treatment resulting from Lodecision in your predecessor's telegram No. 655, which it is

claimed placed evacuation on voluntary basis for recalcitrant women remaining in Hong Kong, whereas the same choice is denied to those who obeyed H. M. G. 's wishes.

G.0.C. presses for action against these women and considers that "failure on the part of the Government to take action against them has brought discredit on the Government." In my view he has misread the general tenour of the criticisms which are directed against

•

(1) alleged original mishandling of evacuation and

discrimination and

(2)

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