CO129-590-3 Entry of Chinese into Hong Kong 9-1-1941 - 7-11-1941 — Page 20

(F 10623/98/10)

FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.

23rd October, 1941.

59

20

54.

Dear Gent,

54064/4

Thank you for your letter 50040/4

of the 10th

October about the operation of the Hong Kong Immigration Control Ordinance.

At the same

Military considerations must, we agree, take precedence in present circumstances and we accordingly concur in your proposed action and in the terms of your proposed telegram to the Governor. time there is a political aspect (and, if I may say so, you have held the balance fairly between the two somewhat conflicting aspects), namely that which concerns Sino-British relations. Consequently, except in the most urgent cases it would seem desirable that if any new restrictions are to be introduced we should be given an opportunity of explaining matters to the Chinese Government in advance.

As you will of course realise,

any measures taken to strengthen the defence of Hong Kong, however efficacious in themselves, will not be advantageous to us on balance if they seriously antagonise the Chinese Government and the local Chinese community.

As Hong Kong has already taken certain steps to tighten up immigration control, we shall have to tell

Would you Clark Kerr to say a word to the Chinese. therefore be good enough to instruct Hong Kong to repeat 49 to Chungking your telegram to Hong Kong No. 1020,

53.

Hong Kong telegram No. 1143, and the telegram which you now propose to send, after which we shall ask Clark Kerr to explain to the Chinese that the measures taken are unavoidably necessary in the interests of the defence of Hong Kong and to speak in the sense of the second and

third/

G.E. J. Gent, Esq., C.M.G., D.S.0.

Page 20Page 21