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Friday, July 9, 1971
This is, in fact, the existing practice, and the Bill proposes
that such persons should be given this status in law.
All other persons are classified as immigrants and, with three
exceptions, will be subject to immigration control, to the imposition of
conditions of stay, and to deportation or removal.
The exceptions are these.
Firstly, members of H.M. Forces, other
than those locally engaged, will not require permission to land, nor will
their stay be subject to conditions.
However, a person who ceases to be
a serviceman will become subject to immigration control.
Secondly, members of the crew of an aircraft who are to leave on
another aircraft within seven days will not need permission to land.
10 Years Residence
Thirdly, immigrant citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who
have been resident in Hong Kong for a continuous period of 10 years will
be exempt from conditions of stay, although they may be refused permission
to land in the same way as other immigrants.
The period of 10 years residence corresponds roughly with the
period proposed in the new United Kingdom Immigration Bill for citizens of
the United Kingdom and Colonies, such as Hong Kong belongers, to become
United Kingdom belongers.
The Bill proposes that an immigration officer should be empowered
to examine any person on his arrival in or prior to his departure from Hong
Kong and to examine at any time a person whom he believes to have landed
illegally or to be in breach of a condition of stay.
/It also