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Hong Kong Authorities Compel Ten Syrian Jewish Families to Leave for Portuguese Island

March 22, 1949
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Approximately ten Syrian Jewish families who found refuge here following the outbreak of Arab-Israeli hostilities last year have been compelled to move to the Portuguese island colony on Macao, it was reported here today.

The Jewish families–part of a group of 30 families who came here from Damascus following the outbreak of pogroms in Syria–were denied extension of their alien residence permits despite intervention in their behalf by local Jewish leaders.Hong Kong authorities alleged that the Syrian Jews were engaging in illegal gold transactions. The 30 families were originally permitted to reside here on the strength of guarantees provided for them by relatives and friends resident in this British Crown Colony. All of them, soon after their arrival from Syria, set up businesses and became active in local communal affairs.

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