TNAG-1570-FCO40-2136-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 113

warning regarding this matter as follows:

there,

"Whereas it has been brought

to my knowledge that British subjects of Chinese descent, having all the

appearance of Chinese and speaking like natives, establish themselves in

the interior of the county and permanently take up their residence

acquiring all the privileges of Chinese subjects in violation of

Treaty provisions governing the status and acts of British subjects in

the Chinese dominions, it is herby publicly notified, that anyone SO

offending is liable to be able taken by the Chinese authorities to the

nearest Consular Post to be handed over to the British Consul for

punishment, in the same way as any other class of British subjects would

60 be punished for a similar violation of Treaty.

Judging from British sources however, Britain was very passive

towards the defense of British subjects of Chinese descent in China.

This happened even before 1870, when the principle of perpetual

allegiance was still held in British Nationality Law. an 1865 document

under the 85th section of the Queen's-in-council, imposed on all Chinese

British Subjects who resided or traveled in China "to discard the

Chinese costume and adopt some other dress or costume whereby they may

be readily distinguished from the native population." Otherwise, they

would be considered having the intention "to sink their British

nationality," and therefore they

61

British authorities. The

could not expect

protection from

authorities knew well that many Chinese

British subjects would have a hard time complying with this regulation

because, as one experienced British authority put it, "The Chinese were

willing to suffer prosecution rather than to submit to the tonsure; and

even nowadays to allow the hair to grow is equivalent

Yet the British still blamed her subjects rather than Ching authorities.

In fact, some leading Chinese British subjects, even in Shanghai which

had more contact with foreigners, had petitioned for a more practicable

to

rebellion.

"62

24

---