CO129-604-6 Immigration- control over entry from China 1-1-1947 - 4-1-1950 — Page 41

OUTWARD TELEGRAM

FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES

76

54064/49

Cypher (O.T.P.)

PRIORITY

No.10

TO HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)

Sent 3d January, 1950. 12.45 hrs.

Secret.

Addressed to Governor Hong Kong. Repeated to Nanking.

#

18 Tamsui.

Immigration Control.

My telegram No.1199 mentioned that to grant visas on passports issued by Chinese Communists would imply a degree of recognition of the issuing authority. Similarly it will be inappropriate, after withdrawal of recognition from the Nationalists, for visas for Hong Kong to be granted on identification documents issued by the Nationalist authorities.

There is, however, no political objection to Chinese entering Hong Kong from Formosa, if you are prepared to accept them, and it would be appropriate for H.M. Consul to issue visas on affidavits made before him to the effect that the applicant is a Chinese national etc.

There is no British Consulate in Hainan but you could issue to applicants some sort of special landing permit which would obviate the need for a visa to be affixed to a passport or other form of Nationalist identity document.

Instructions on these points will in due course

be circulated to all visa issuing authorities.

Copies sent to Foreign Office for repetition to

سم

Nanking and Tamsui.