FO371-24688 — Page 347

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469 5038

E 6339

91107

At an interview with Sir H. Seymour on 8th November

the Chinese Ambassador reverted to the question of the pro-

posed restrictions on immigration into Hongkong. He said

that he had had a talk on the subject with the Governor, Sir

G. Northcote, who is shortly returning to Hongkong and asked

whether action could not be suspended until Sir G. Northcote

had arrived back in the Colony.

Sir H. Seymour informed Dr. Quo that having exam-

ined the report out of which these proposals had arisen he

was greatly impressed by the fact that the population of the

New Territories was increasing at the rate of some 300 per-

sons a day and that, in the absence of proper accommodation

for such a huge influx the conditions under which these

immigrants were living were very bad. He also pointed out

that Hongkong in present circumstances had to take some

obvious precautions against over-crowding. He undertook

however to enquire of the Colonial Office whether it would

be possible to delay action in the matter of the new Bill

until the Governor had returned to his post.

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