IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT/A
10
LABI
REF.
8
2
CONFIDENTIAL
RECOVED IN
REGISTRY No. 51.
NE T
REF.
FM HONGKONG 159808Z
16 JUL 1971
CONFIDENTIAL
VIKKI8/10
TAB CABY
TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELEGRAM NO.432 OF 15TH JULY ROUTINE INFO HONGKONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON (F C C PLEASE PASS)
YOUR TELEGRAMS 515 AND 516 IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION.
2. THE BILL WAS PUBLISHED ON 9TH JULY AND ITS INTRODUCTION
AND THE OPENING OF THE SECOND READING DEBATE IS DOWN FOR
WEDNESDAY JULY 21ST. IT WAS IN ANY CASE PROPOSED TO POSTPONE
THE DEBATE ON THE SECOND READING AFTER THE BILLS INTRODUCTION
BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
3.
TO DEFER THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BILL AT THIS STAGE WOULD
CAUSE CONSIDERABLE COMMENT, ITS PROVISIONS HAVE RECEIVED
SUBSTANTIAL PUBLICITY BOTH CRITICAL AND FAVOURABLE.
4. AS REGARDS THE TERMS OF YOUR ANSWER TO THE PARLIAMENTARY
QUESTION, THE FACT IS THAT THE NEW BILL DOES NOT IMPOSE ANY
RESTRICTIONS ON THE FREEDOM OF ENTRY OF CITIZENS OF THE UNITED
KINGDOM AND COLONIES WHICH DO NOT ALREADY EXIST, OR INDEED
WHICH HAVE NOT EXISTED FOR MANY YEARS. THE BILL DOES, ON THE
OTHER HAND, FACILITATE THE REMOVAL OF BRITISH SUBJECTS WHO ARE
NOT BELONGERS OF HONG KONG WHO MISBEHAVE OR WHOSE BEHAVIOUR
IS NOT IN THE OPINION OF THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL CONDUCIVE
TO THE PUBLIC GOOD,
5.
THOUGH YOUR PROPOSED REPLY, SO FAR AS IT GCES, IS FACTUAL
IT DOES NOT CORRECT THE ABOVE IMPORTANT MISCONCEPTION OF THE
EFFECTS OF THE LEGISLATION, MOREOVER WITH RESPECT, DOES YOUR
REPLY NOT GIVE THE UNFORTUNATE AND INCORRECT IMPRESSION OF
INTERVENTION IN A MATTER ON WHICH THERE HAS NOT BEEN PREVIOUS CONSULTATION? INDEED, AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE TERMS OF THE LEGISLATION HAVE BEEN UNDER YOUR CONSIDERATION (AND THE SUBJECT
OF CORRESPONDENCE) SINCE THE AUTUMN OF LAST YEAR,
I WOULD DEPLORE THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE INTRODUCTION OF
/THE BILL