FO371-27622 — Page 176

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• PalArenas No. 54006/2/14/

Mr. gent...

Apmet

spumeis

12.8.41.

enne

54056/2/41.

ordinance.

Dear Lunner

F 7703

13 AUG 194

heter

F

157

wing street, S.V.1.

12 August, 1941,

F 7182 / zake

In your letter 3.2774/41 of the Clet of July, you ask whether we can let you have a brief account of the reasures which are in force to control Chinese immigration into the Far Jantern Colonies, and you suggest that this information will also be of interest to the Foreign office.

It

As regards Hong Kong, immigration is governed by Ordinance Ko. 39 of 1940, a copy of which is cnclosed. This Ordinanec had to be introduced (in apite of the protente of the Chinese Government) in order that the Colonial Govern ent might have povore to control and restrict the loods of destitute Chinese taking refuge in the Colony from Japanese expeditions in Xuangtung and other parts of Southern China. was essential to do this as a defence measure, and it has been made clear that it is an aergency measure to meet the present abnormal conditions, and that it is the intention of the Hong Kong Government to re- examine the whole problems as soon as the situation permits. The Chinese Government were also told that the Ordinance would be administered no sympathetically as ponnible.

The circunote oes of Hong Kong are, of course, quite exceptional. With few exceptions the population is Chinese, of whom a section are technically British subjects by reason of birth in the Colony, but virtually all are by Chinese law Chinese nationala whatever other nationality they may possess in addition. zarge miors of Chinese move into long Kong when a livelihood there presents itself, and shift out again to Centon or to their ancestral

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W. H. TURNER, ESQ., M.C.

villages

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