TNAG-1570-FCO40-2136-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 117

powers concerned,

through proper diplomatic channels,

China tried to

disturb the issue through various measures, such as by forcing a treaty

with the British to protect business rights of the Chinese, by imposing

registration

of all Chinese, including those foreign born, and by

promoting a narrow nationalism of China. All these measures seem to

show that China would be pleased only after all Chinese had given up

their British citizenship.

Secondly, in Singapore,

the Legislative Council has now proceeded

with its second reading on a bill aimed at disqualifying voting rights

acquired a passport issued by Chinese

for British subjects who had

authorities under any regime.

the national policy of China, it has destroyed the hope of holding dual

citizenship and has forced local Chinese to choose either to remain

Even if this bill is not directed against

British or Chinese.'

"I

This editorial disclosed that the British authorities in the Strait

colonies and Strait Settlement of Malaya were very much irritated by

China, both in the Ching period and in the Kuomintang period, for their

non-recognition policy of Chinese British subjects. of their colonies.

It is even more interesting to see that this naturalization case of 1948

in British colonies, disclosed not only the attitude of the

and the Ching regime, but also that of the Communists.

Kuomintang

In 1948, the civil war of China was approaching its end,

Kuomintang almost completely overwhelmed. The Communists

actively

with the

were already

Communist

Party of Malaya, with

involved on foreign fronts through their agents in the region.

When the 1948 nationality law and independence issue came up, the

its members Chinese,

over 90% of

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