FO371-46259 — Page 191

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зь

166

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[CODE R]

DEPA

£12434

DEPARTMENTAL NO. 1.

FROM WASHINGTON TO FOREIGN OFFICE 30 DEC 1945.

Earl of Halifax

No. 8468.

20th December 1945.

D. 7.55 p.m. 20th December 1945.

R. 1.50 a.m. 21st December 1945.

I I I I

Your telegram No. 12486. F11057/114/10

Telegram from Commander in Chief Hongkong to Admiralty T.0.0. 510,752 October, Civil Affairs number 274 repeated to British Admiralty Delegation here stated:-

9F19347/147/10

"Because of shortage of supplies and accommodation present Hongkong policy is that only officials of military administration and business men irrespective of nationality who are essential to the rehabilitation of the colony should be permitted to return there.

Consular officers therefore should only issue visas or endorse passports under the terms of the above formula. Where there is any doubt, applications should be subject to prior reference".

Authority to continue to grant visas on the above mentioned basis was given to the Naval Attaché at Washington time of origin 280932 November Civil Affairs No. 670.

In view of these recent pronouncements by the Commander in Chief Hongkong I assume that instructions in your telegram are in fact out of date but I should be grateful for confirmation of this.

This telegram was

[Note by Communications Department: received incomplete and delayed for repetition].

30

DEC

1945

1 T

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