19
Reference.....
EFFORTS TO
GET MORE
CHINESE
TO U.K.
Mr Pang Fu-wah, leader of the Heung Yee Kuk dele- gation to Britain, said in Manchester on Tuesday that he would try, in their forthcom- ing talks with the British Gov- ernment, to obtain freer entry into the UK of Chinese immi- grants.
He told a press conference, however, that he had no figure in mind. He said that only slightly over 160 labour permits were issued to Hongkong people last year.
to
Asked why they wanted come to Britain, Mr Pang said that the restaurant business there was flourishing, and there was a shortage of labour which had to be Chinese. The Chinese were also attracted by the British way of life
Mr Pang said there was a need to re-examine the relationships between Britain and Hongkong from every point of view.
"We feel that people in Hong- with the kong are dissatisfied Commonwealth Immigration Act. Hongkong people are extremely loyal and feel that they belong to a family. They are much closer to Britain than people of some Commonwealth States."
Dissatisfaction
In an interview with Indepen- dent Television, Mr Cheung Yan- lung, a member of the delegation, expressed dissatisfaction with the present arrangements governing admission of Hong- kong Chinese into Britain to work.
Hongkong was a Crown Colony and should not therefore be in- cluded in the immigration quota for independent Commonwealth countries, but should have a quota of its own.
On the question of Britain's defence cuts in the Far East, Mr Pang said that the presence of British troops in Hongkong could only inspire confidence in the security of the Colony.
He said that the vast majority. of the people felt that the British troops had done a tre- mendous job during 1967 in maintaining law and order. “The British garrison is very welcome to stay in Hongkong." he de- clared,
In answer to a question, Mr Pang said that the situation in Hongkong had returned to normal. "We feel a bright future lies ahead."
1
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
1 February 1968