HK ~ 7,8/10
Mr Wilford
Jonson
Sir Leslie Monson
Mr Logan
CONFIDENTIAL
1
26
3.18
B
10/21/1
HONG KONG IMMIGRATION BILL
1. An urgent reply is required to Hong Kong telegram No 583
in which the Governor informs us that he proposes to continue
and complete on 1 September the debate on the second reading.
of the Hong Kong Immigration Bill which was introduced into the
Hong Kong Legislative Council on 21 July and adjourned sine die.
2. The purpose of the Bill is to consolidate and revise the
immigration laws of Hong Kong. The aspect of this new
legislation most likely to attract attention in the United
Kingdom is the effect it will have on the position of citizens
of the United Kingdom and Colonies. Although the Bill does not
seek to impose any new restrictions on the freedom of entry into
Hong Kong of citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies it does
seek, inter alia, to facilitate the removal from Hong Kong of
British subjects who are not belongers of Hong Kong and who
misbehave or whose behaviour is not, in the opinion of the
Governor-in-Council, conducive to the public good.
3. At present the deportation of British subjects from Hong
Kong is governed by the Deportation (British Subjects)
Ordinance which was enacted in 1934 and which requires the
Secretary of State's approval for the deportation of any British
subject except in certain limited circumstances. In addition,
the Ordinance stipulates that no British subject may be
deported without a Court's recommendation or unless a prior
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CONFIDENTIAL
/judicial