FO371-27622 — Page 19

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F168 Fulir

JAN 194

ེན

The Chinese Ambassador called for a short conversation

He was chiefly interested in the question

this morning.

of the passage of Chinese persons in and out of Hongkong.

I told Dr. Quo that I feared that he must take it that the

regulations must stand. The measure was a defensive one;

it was not intended to discriminate against the Chinese or

anybody else. The Ambassador must realise that the

conglomeration of a large number of persons in a small

place, such as Hongkong, at a time of crisis, such as this,

was unwise.

2.

I thought that the Ambassador's submission on the

subject of the difficulties of obtaining permits of entry

was exaggerated.

I understood that permits of entry

could be obtained at the point of entry into Hongkong

territory and not only at Hongkong itself. At any rate,

this point should have attention. The Ambassador asked me

whether I would ease the position with regard to consular

visas, but I informed him that I thought he was exaggerating

this difficulty and that no passports were required, but

that I would let him know more if I was wrong.

3.

The Ambassador then said that he wished to make a

special/

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