CO129-590-3 Entry of Chinese into Hong Kong 9-1-1941 - 7-11-1941 — Page 34

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FOREIGN OFFICE,

S.W.1.

(F 8181/98/10).

10th September, 1941.

(Secret).

37

Dear Gent,

I am sorry to have been so long in answering your secret letter 54064/41 of 21st August about the control of the entry of Chinese into Hong Kong. The fact is that we have had some difficulty in getting hold of a copy of the Chiefs of Staff report in question. Now that we have done so we cannot find in it the recommendation which you quote. It is, however, a fair inference that the Chiefs of Staff, having drawn attention to the danger, want something done about it.

2. As we understand it, your draft telegram is intended to be purely exploratory and I would suggest that this should be made quite clear. It is true that the telegram only asks the Governor to review the operation of the Immigration Control Ordinance No.32 of 1940, but it might be well to state specifically that he is to refer home before actually imposing new restrictions.

3. In view of the political aspect we should like an opportunity of examining any such restrictions before they are put into force. We should also wish to inform the Chinese Government in advance of any new measures which may be decided on.

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

4.