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(F 1481/177/10).
LIMITED DISTRIBUTION.
Cypher telegram to Sir R. Craigie (Tokyo).
Foreign Office, 6th March, 1940. 8.40 p.m.
No. 177.
178
Your despatch No. 517 [(18/74HK/39) of the 8th July, 1959: Chinese internees at Hongkong] of 1959.
In view of the cost and embarrassment caused to the Government
of Hongkong by the presence of Chinese internees in the colony,
and in the light of the Governor's confidential despatch to the Colonial Office of the 18th January, it has been suggested that the
prisoners should be released in groups and assisted to return to
their homes.
2. I shall be grateful for your views. As their internment
is not strictly required under international law, and as there are
confirmed reports that the Japanese military authorities at Canton have themselves released Chinese prisoners of war, it may not be
necessary to secure the consent of the Japanese military authorities to release of prisoners. It seems desirable, however, to inform
Japanese Government before releases begin.
Repeated to Shanghai No. 193, Governor Hongkong unnumbered.
F.E.K
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