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THE COMMONWEALTH WHO ARE APPARENTLY PREPARED TO WORK FOR VERY LOW WAGES, AND IN SO FAR AS THEY DEPRECIATE THE STANDARD OF LIVING OF OUR OWN WORKERS, MAKE A NEGATIVE RATHER THAN A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO OUR WELL-BEING.
IT IS PROPOSED THEREFORE THAT FROM A DATE STILL TO BE FIXED
BUT WHICH I WILL ANNOUNCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, IMMIGRANTS FROM OTHER COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES AND DEPENDENT TERRITORIES WILL REQUIRE A VISA FOR ENTRY INTO HONG KONG FOR THE PURPOSES OF EMPLOYMENT OR RESIDENCE.
IT IS THE INTENTION THAT THE CRITERIA TO BE USED IN DECIDING WHETHER OR NO A GIVEN PERSON WOULD OBTAIN A VISA ON FIRST ENTRY WILL BE THE SAME CRITERIA AS ARE AT PRESENT APPLIED TO ALIENS.
PERSONS WHO POSSESS SOME SPECIAL SKILL OR KNOWLEDGE VALUABLE TO HONG KONG WILL OF COURSE BE ALLOWED ENTRY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ENCOURAGING LOCAL INVESTMENT WILL BE KEPT VERY MUCH IN MIND. THERE IS NO INTENTION OF KEEPING OUT ANYONE WHO HAS A CONTRIBUTION TO MAKE TO THE COLONY'S ECONOMY.
THE NEW CONTROLS WILL NOT APPLY TO TOURISTS AND VISITORS TO THE COLONY INCLUDING THOSE WHO COME HERE ON BUSINESS TRIPS. SUCH VISITORS WILL BE ALLOWED TO STAY HERE FOR A PERIOD OF UP TO THREE MONTHS WITHOUT A VISA.
THE CONTROLS WILL ALSO NOT APPLY TO PERSONS WHO BELONG TO HONG KONG OR TO THE UNITED KINGDOM, THAT IS TO SAY, PERSONS HOLDING HONG KONG PASSPORTS OR BRITISH PASSPORTS UNLESS THEY ARE ENDORSED TO SHOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER BRITISH TERRITORY. PERSONS BURN, NATURALISED OR REGISTERED AS BRITISH SUBJECTS EITHER IN HONG KUNG OR IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO COME HERE FREELY AND WITHOUT THE NEED OF A VISA.
THE NEW SCHEME WILL IN NO WAY AFFECT THE EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ENTRY OF PEOPLE FROM CHINA OR MACAU. NOR WILL IT AFFECT IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER THE MOVEMENT OF HONG KONG RESIDENTS HOLDING TRAVEL DOCUMENTS ISSUED BY THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION.
/IT IS