F.0. 49/105
66
54.
CHINESS EMBASSY,
London, . 1.
d.
6th December, 1949.
Your Excellency,
I have the honour to say that I have been instructed by my Government to make strong representations to Your Excellency against the recent action of the Hongkong Government regarding the requirement of visés for Chinese nationals entering Hongkong from Taiwan and Hainan in contravention of the Sino-British Convention of 1898.
2.
It has been a long established right that Chinese nationals can move freely from any part of China to Hongkong without being required to show passports.
3.
Such restrictions of the freedom of travel as imposed by the Hongkong Government would impede travelling or even render it impossible, particularly as there is only one British Consulate at Taipeh, apart from constituting serious obstacles to trade to the mutual disadvantage of our two peoples.
4.
Your Excellency's attention is further invited to the fact that discrimination against Chinese nationals from Taiwan and Hainan will also have undesirable political implications.
5.
The Chinese Commissioner of Foreign Affairs in Hongkong has already protested against the action of the Hongkong Government. Pending settlement of the question, identification papers are issued to travellers as temporary measures to minimize difficulties but this, it must be pointed out, should not be taken in any way as waivering treaty right.
6.
In view of the above it is urgently requested that His Majesty's Government will see their way to advising the Hongkong Government to reconsider the matter.
I have the honour to be, with the highest consideration,
The Rt. Hon. Ernest Bevin,
etc. etc.
etforeft office; s.w. 1.
e:
Your Excellency's obedient Servant,
(signed)
F.T. CHENG.
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