CO129-590-3 Entry of Chinese into Hong Kong 9-1-1941 - 7-11-1941 — Page 22

NATIONAL

FOR

SCHEME

NEW

DISABLED

D/188

SECRET

Dear

Genk,

The War Office,

Whitehall,

S.W.1.

29

58

October, 1941.

54064141

55

Reference your letter 50640/1/41 of 10/10.

We are grateful for the interest which you have taken in this subject which, as you say in your letter, is of very great military importance, and we support strongly any measures which can be introduced to increase the control of the civilian population.

No doubt you will be right to remind the Governor of the necessity for considerate and sympathetic treatment of Chinamen. We feel, however, that in view of the immense popularity of Hong Kong as a place of residence that we need not unduly take counsel of our fears that the proper handling of overdue defence measures will have widespread political repercussions.

We are sending a copy of this letter to Mr. Sterndale-Bennett of the Foreign Office.

Yours sincerely 7.c. Scott.

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

Colonial Office,

S.W.1.