CO129-604-4 Immigration- control over entry from China 7-3-1947 - 5-11-1947 — Page 9

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Metetre

CONFIDENTIAL.

FOREIGN OFFICE,

S.W.1

RECEIVEL

240CT 1647

C. O. RECY

23rd October, 1947.

54064/47

9

(8)

no!

Dear Mayle,

Thank you for sending to me under a compliments slip dated 1st October a copy of a letter to you from MacDougall, enclosing a memorandum by T.M. Hazlerigg dated the 18th January on the right of Chinese to enter Hong Kong.

Freedom of entry may mean freedom to enter Hong Kong without a passport or other entry permit or exemption from immigration laws applicable to foreigners as a whole. I presume that it means the latter.

I am advised that the Proclamation of 1841 declaring that Chinese merchants and traders and their ships should have free permission to resort to trade at the port of Hong Kong could not give any claim of right, as between the Chinese and British Governments, to enter the port, since, being a

unilateral declaration it was revocable at any time either in whole or in respect of particular Chinese traders. It may, in any case, be noted that the Proclamation only relates to the port of Hong Kong. The right of natives of China to enter Hong Kong was .granted in the Supplementary Treaty of 1843. Article XIII, but this article is more limited in its terms

N.L. Mayle, Esq.

Colonial Office.

than/