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F 215 Enter F

14 JAN 17.

Dr. Chen of the Chinese Embassy rang up urgently this morning to say that the Embassy had received a telegram from Chungking asking for a postponement of the new Hongkong immigration regulations which they understood were to go

into force on the 15th of January. The Chinese Government wished for some time to consider a number of points in these regulations some of which were considered objectionable by them.

I asked Dr. Chen whether he had discussed this matter with the Chinese Ambassador to whom Mr. Butler had explained on 8 January that the measure was one of urgent necessity

the in present circumstances and that the authorities intended to apply them with the utmost leniency and sympathy possible. I hardly thought it would be possible now to obtain a postponement particularly on the grounds that they contained some objectionable points. If, on the other hand, the intention of the Chinese Government was to obtain a little more time to arrange for their nationals to comply with the regulations this might be another matter. In any case I would report what Dr. Chen said.

Dr. Chen replied that it did indeed seem from the Chungking telegram as though it would not physically be possible to make arrangements for all concerned to comply with the regulations so soon, although the Chinese Government found that much that was contained in the regulations was perfectly acceptable.

I promised Dr. Chen that we would consider his request urgently and that I would let him have a reply.

klay

Clarke

11th January, 1941.

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