20/20795/4742
[Cypher.]
DEPARTMENTAL NO. 2.
FROM CHUNGKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE.
Sir H. Seymour. No. 562.
D.
R.
12.30 p.m.
6.16 p.m.,
25th April, 1942.
25th April, 1942.
25th April, 1942.
• •
63
110
(02)
Your telegram No. 470.
For the purpose of dealing with officers both British and Chinese (British) who need my assistance, am I to act on the assumption that all offices in Hong Kong have been abolished owing to war conditions?
2. It would appear that any officer, British or Chinese, who has initiative and courage to escape will thereby be penalised and I strongly urge that such officers should not be put in any worse position than those who remain in Hong Kong.
3. The treatment of Chinese, which can be construed as harsh, is bound to arouse bitter criticism and reflect on His Majesty's Government, and this is not the time for application of rules of procedure suitable for peace time establishments. I trust therefore, that all officers, both British and Chinese, can be "[? assisted]" for the duration of the war at least, and for this period anyhow be not worse off in this respect than their colleagues in Colonial Service in other parts of the Empire, which have not been called on to suffer as Hong Kong has.
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4. Chinese Government is dealing with thousands of Chinese refugees from Hong Kong at their own charges. Their reaction to appeals for relief from stranded Government officials would be I fear outspoken.
5. Possibly, however, it is your intention to provide the necessary relief without time limit. Do you confirm that paragraph 4 (3) of your telegram may be construed in this sense?
It is unlikely that scale of expenditure for Hong Kong Government servants needing assistance from me will ever assume large proportions, though I hope that as many as possible will make the attempt to escape.
6.
¡INDIVI
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