t
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CYPHER/CAT A
ROUTINE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 575
TOP COPY 28
CONFIDENT I AL
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
21 JULY 1969.
CONFIDENTIAL
ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELEGRAM NUMBER 575 OF 21 JULY REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO CANBERRA AND WELLINGTON.
123
CANBERRA TELEGRAM 686 TO YOU. IMMIGRATION OF COMMONWEALTH CITIZENS.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE MADE CLEAR IN CANBERRA THAT THE DECISION TO INTRODUCE THESE CONTROLS WAS TAKEN IN HONG KONG AND IS NECESSITATED BY THE NEED TO PREVENT AN INFLUX OF SETTLERS FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH. NO OTHER COURSE IS ACCEPTABLE IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE ARE ALREADY INDICATIONS OF SUCH A DEVELOPMENT. THE GREAT MAJORITY OF OTHER COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES
HAVE ALREADY BARRIERS.
2. I HOPE THAT THE FURTHER POINT WILL BE MADE BY THE HIGH COMMISSIONER THAT THE AUSTRALIANS CAN SCARCELY COMPLAIN ABOUT THESE MINIMAL CONTROL MEASURES WHEN THEY THEMSELVES REQUIRE VISAS FOR ENTRY INTO AUSTRALIA OF PERSONS FROM HONG KONG AND THEIR OWN POLICY FOR PERMITTING ENTRY FOR RESIDENCE OR EMPLOYMENT
- IS STRICTER THAN THAT TO BE INTRODUCED FOR HONG KONG. YOU WILL
BE AWARE OF THE RESENTMENT FELT BY CHINESE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ON ENTRY RESTICTIONS INTO AUSTRALIA.
3. I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE FROM CASUAL CONVERSATION IN A DIFFERENT CONTEXT THAT THE AUSTRALIAN SENIOR TRADE COMMISIONER IN HONG KONG WOULD NOT HIMSELF FIND THESE CONTROLS TOO UNWELCOME WHATEVER MIGHT BE HIS GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE, SINCE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF UNDESIRABLES COME HERE FROM AUSTRALIA FROM TIME TO TIME AND CAUSE HIM EMBARRASSMENT. WE WOULD BE GLAD TO APPROACH HIM AND TRY TO ENSURE HIS SUPPORT OR AT LEAST UNDERSTANDING.
US
REF.
NOX
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CONFIDENTIAL
RLVED IN REGISTRY No. 51
22 JUL 1969
HKK 18/2)
14.