32 To Ashley Clarke W/ Arpay 31 Comps (Conf) 19. 6.41
33. H.K.
In No 30.
tel. 628 couf.
3-7-41
We do not seem to have had the semi-official despatch from the Colonial Secretary to Sir A. Blackburn referred to at the beginning of this telegram, but the facts are fully clear.
(1) The arrangement referred to by the Chinese Charge d'Affaires is a purely administrative one such as the Governor can direct under Section 10(a) of the Immigration Control Ordinance.
(2) The arrangements affect only a very small proportion of Chinese entering the Colony.
It is, therefore, not a very important issue.
(3) The Hong Kong Government are not ready to adopt the Chinese Government's suggestion that a special amendment to the Ordinance should be passed by the Legislative Council on the grounds that they have perfectly sound reasons for not expressly mentioning Chinese in the Ordinance, and an amendment explicitly mentioning them might lead to troublesome debates in the Legislature. They also consider that such a step would tie their hands should they find it necessary to revert to the system of demanding visas as a necessary preliminary to entry to the Colony by persons holding Chinese official passports. They point out, however, that the Ordinance provides for agreements for mutual abolition or waiving of visas, and the Chinese Government will be able to take advantage of that. Presumably the agreement could be denounced by the Hong Kong Government should they think conditions made it necessary to insist on the visa system again. It might, however, be noted that such an arrangement existed before the Ordinance was passed, and that the Hong Kong Government were apparently quite prepared at the end of last year to allow it to lapse.) I attach a letter to Mr. Ashley Clarke.
12.7.41.
34 To Astley Clarke W/ Copy 33
35 transfered & cacsblabor domet
1
aas
$7
14/7
15.7.41
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