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The question of restricting Chinese immigration into Hongkong. is explained in a memorandum in F 5019/77/10. The Chinese Ambassador afterwards asked that action might be suspended until the return to Hongkong of the Governor, Sir G. Northcote The Bill to restrict immigration is a defence measure and we felt we must leave it to the Colonial Office to judge whether its passage into law should be so long delayed. We ourselves felt that the situation had been adequately met by the instructions sent to the Hongkong Government that there should be a further reference home before the Bill was finally passed into law.

The Officer Administering the Government of Hongkong has now reported that the Bill has passed all its readings without a division and without any serious opposition from the Chinese members of the Council. The Colonial Office accordingly propose, subject to our concurrence, to instruct the Officer Administering the Government to bring the measure into force at the earliest opportunity, and again to lay stress on the need for sympathetic administration Sir A. Clark Kerr has already reported (in his telegram No. 161 of November 2nd) that he thinks the Chinese Government, in spite of their protests, will understand the necessity of the measure, and that their reactions will not be severe. I think it will be sufficient to agree with what the Colonial Office propose, and tell Sir A. Clark Kerr that we have done so. But if there is any doubt on the point, we

could send a telegram to Chungking saying that we propose to concur unless he sees serious objection.

I do not think that any further communication to the Chinese Ambassador is necessary before we concur in the Colonial Office proposal. Bur Mr. Butler may wish to inform him of our action after we have concurred.

J.C. Sterndale Bennett:

11th December, 1940.

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