CONFIDENTIAL
6.
In Section 5(1)of the Hong Kong Bill it is said that an Immigration Officer may refuse leave to land. This is legally the position in the United Kingdom but in practice the Home Secretary has ruled that the power to refuse admission should not be exercised by an Immigration Officer acting on his own discretion; the authority of a senior officer must always be obtained. I suggest the Governor be invited to make some similar administrative rule.
D. G. Pest
TG Streeton
(Migration & Visa Dept) CL 635 Tel: B226
26 August 1971
CONFIDENTIAL