FO371-27622 — Page 3

Page 3

Page 3

has approved, and I think it is clear there can be no more postponement.

From Why tel. 641 it wd appear that under clause 12 the Immigration officer has authority to issue entry permits, frontier passes Iste, which disposes of point 5.

As regards point 2, Oviously if the Chinese insist on British residents of H Kong Setting

Chinese visas we shall have to agree but strict reciprocity requires only that B.DD sh'd obtain entry permit- on arival at the Chinese frontier.

the frontier. B.

or the first stop within going to Canton, Swatow,

S'hai stc. will of course in

present cives not be

affected by an steps the Chinese National Goo

may taice as

I am

refords visa requirements. - having the papers looked about about the arrangement referred to in §3.

Au Jes H 9/1

Sir J. Bruan

Treats #sptire 23/1

-

Sir A. Clark Kerr is inclined to brush asi de all of the Chinese objections except point 2 about reci- procity in the matter of passport visas. I think, however, that even this objection is only a debating

There is no com- point without much real validity. parison between the hordes of indigent Chinese pouring into Hongkong and the comparatively few Hongkong white British residents who enter China. The former are a serious anxiety and liability to the Colonial Govern- ment, while the latter never become a charge on the Chinese authorities. Our precautions are fully justified by war conditions.

The Chinese objections probably emanate from the American trained lawyer Mr. Hsu Mo, and need not be taken too seriously.

We can await the Hongkong observations.

Aus

26/1

10th January, 1941.

isee T12432 1914279

286

378

D1934.

Page 3

Page 3

Page 3