FO371-27622 — Page 211

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F 8181

54064/41.

Secret

23 AUG 1941

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Kvile

178

Colonial Office,

Downing Street,

21

2/ August, 1941.

Dear Sterndale Bennett,

On the 28th July the Chiefs of Staff approved a report on Far East defence measures which inter alia included the recommendation that stricter measures for the control of entry of Chinese into Hong Kong should be introduced as soon as possible.

Strong

and

As you are, of course, aware legislation was enacted in Hong Kong in December last year which gave the local Government powers to control and restrict Chinese immigration into the Colony a drastic departure for defence reasons from the traditional freedom of entry which Chinese have enjoyed into Hong Kong throughout the Colony's existence hitherto. diplomatic representations were made by the Chinese Government against the introduction of the measure, we were, of course, reluctant in present circumstances to give any cause of offence to the Chinese.

It was nevertheless agreed that the legislation was necessary and should be approved on condition that the measure and policy should be re-examined after the war, and in the meantime should be administered as sympathetically as possible so as to alleviate any hardship or inconvenience to Chinese nationals.

We have to consider what directions to give to the Hong Kong Government in the sense of the Chiefs of Staffs' recommendation, and we propose, subject to your concurrence, to telegraph to the Governor as in the enclosed draft.

I am sending a copy of this letter and of the draft telegram to Price at the War Cabinet Offices, and to Scott, War Office, M.0.10.

Yours sincerely,

J.C.STERNDALE BENNETT, ESQ., C.M.G., M.C.,

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Ell Mant.

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