Mr. C. A. Lovitt
14
110
SELECT COMMITTEE ON RACE RELATIONS AND
TEMIGRATION
Your minute of 4 February.
The problem presented by Hong Kong in this context is a special one and somewhat different from that presented by regions such as India, Africa and the Caribbean.
2.
98% of Hong Kong's population of just under four million people are Chinese by birth and origin. Of that number, approximately 50% either possess or can claim British nationality. Accordingly a high proportion of Hong Kong Chinese coming to this country are not Commonwealth citizens (i.e. citizens of the U.K. and Colonies) but are aliens.
3. The number of Hong Kong Chinese in the United Kingdom at the present time is believed to be between thirty thousand and thirty-five thousand.
As a community, they keep themselves very much to themselves and their presence here has not so far given rise to any problems of race relations. The need to take any action under paragraph 1(ii) of Mr. Lovitt's minute of 4 February has not arisen.
4.
Certain features of the stricter administrative controls and procedures now in operation have led to some publicly expressed dissatisfaction in Hong Kong. We are examining with the departments concerned how thesc might be improved and how the need for them can be publicly presented and explained in Hong Kong.
14 February, 1969
(W. 8. Carter)
Hong Kong Department