CONFIDENTIAL
16
13
10/2/1 = 16/2/11
Sir L Moson
Mr Loge
Mr. Renwick.
1. A reply is required to the attached letter from Mr Ben
Ford MP.
2.
The legislation to which Mr Ford refers was the subject of
a recent Parliamentary Question to which Mr Royle gave a written
reply on 19 July. The background to the matter is contained
in the attached submission which accompanied the recommended
reply to that Parliamentary question.
3. The Hong Kong Immigration Bill (a copy of which is attached
together with an explanatory memorandum by the Acting Attorney
General, Hong Kong) was introduced into the Legislative Council
on 21 July, but its second reading was deferred sine die.
Meanwhile we are studying its provisions against the background
of the United Kingdom's own immigration legislation which is
now before Parliament.
4. A draft reply to Mr Ford is attached.
I understand that
in Mr Royle's absence from the office the reply will be signed
by Mr Godber.
6 August 1971
CONFIDENTIAL
п
ani
E O Laird
Hong Kong Department
mm.
6/8
(145181) Dd. 737490 750M 1/71 Hw.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN