FO371-27622 — Page 261

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Cypher Telegram

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218

Colonial Office Reference No. 54064/41

With the compliments of the U.S. of S.

Date 29-9-41

Reference

Colonial Office

F10105 Inter

30

FROM HONG KONG

D. 1941

FROM: TO:

No.1101

Governor (Sir M. Young)

Secretary of State for the Colonies.

D. 26th September, 1941. R. 27th

Addressed to S. of S.

Repeated to Chungking No.226.

09.45 hrs.

Your telegram No.951.9647/98/10

Review of defence preparation.

I have reviewed the working of the Immigration Ordinance and discussed with the 0.0.C. With his concurrence and that of all other members of my Executive Council I am now taking the following steps with the object of reducing the surplus population now in Hong Kong Island which probably exceede 300,000:

(1) Immigration Officer has been instructed to tighten control materially. Entry permite are to be issued less freely and substantial cash deposits will be required to ensure that those permitted to enter for short periods do not remain.

(2)

Scheme for checking illicit entry_by junk is being actively worked out and will I hope come into operation very shortly.

(3) Provision is being made for the immediate establishment of centres on Lan Tao Island and at suitable site on the East coast mainland to draw off small numbers of families immediately and serve as foci for the removal of larger numbers when necessary, Steps are also being taken to render more difficult the entry into urban areas of destitute persons who have been placed in refugee camp in new territories.

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