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Communications on this subject should be addressed to-

HE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE,

COLONIAL OFFICE,

and the following

LONDON, S.W.1.

Number quoted: 53838/35/40

Sir,

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NATIONAL

SCHEME

MEN

173

Downing Street.

F148129 February 1940

18.1.40.

With referene

MAR

AR 1940 Joffice letter

No.F.8682/3361/10 of the 18th August, 1939, I am directed by Mr. Secretary MacDonald to transmit to you, to be laid before Viscount Halifax, the accompanying copy of a despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong on the subject of the release and repatriation of the Chinese soldiers at present

interned in that Colony.

2. Mr. MacDonald appreciates the cost and embarrassment occasioned to the Hong Kong Government by the presence of these internees in the present circumstances of the Colony. Their internment is moreover in the nature of a self-imposed obligation undertaken by His Majesty's Government but not strictly required by international law. The failure of the Japanese military authorities at Canton to concur in their release does not therefore constitute a necessary obstacle to the adoption of that course.

3.

Having regard, further, to the confirmed reports (to which the Governor refers) that the Japanese military

authorities at Canton have themselves released Chinese

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE,

FOREIGN OFFICE.

prisoners

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