Foreign & Commonwealth
Office
HKD 026/12
SCEN
1.7
I
London SW1 2AH
From The Minister of State
10%
Jea Sen Maler
9 May 1991
Thank you for your letter of 15 March enclosing one from your constituent, Mr Jimmy Boyle of 33 Gillespie Road, Edinburgh, about the problems he encountered on his arrival at Hong Kong in February. I am sorry for the delay in replying.
First I should point out that Hong Kong's immigration policy, including control of entry, is the responsibility of the Hong Kong Government. It is they who decide on admission or refusal of entry. However I have sought an account from the Hong Kong Immigration Department of the incident. concerning Mr Boyle, and my reply is based on the report I have received from them.
Under Hong Kong's Immigration rules, British citizens may be refused entry as visitors if the immigration officer is not satisfied that the passenger is (a) a genuine visitor or (b) of good character. In Mr Boyle's case the initial refusal was taken under (b), as was explained to him at the time, because of his criminal record. This decision was upheld by a chief immigration officer at the airport, but whilst arrangements were being made for Mr Boyle to leave Hong Kong, he asked and was allowed to make a number of long distance telephone calls. Eventually he spoke to an official at Consular Department here at the FCO, and as Mr Boyle acknowledges, he was able to help. The Director of the Hong Kong Immigration Department then exercised his discretion personally and allowed Mr Boyle a visit of up to one month.
Mr Boyle in his letter makes a number of complaints about his treatment by Immigration Officials at Hong Kong airport. According to the report I have received, Hong Kong Immigration Department are satisfied that Immigration Officers behaved correctly throughout.
As
The officer who advised Mr Boyle that his wife and children could enter Hong Kong was acting in good faith. to Mr Boyle's request to speak to a UK representative, Hong Kong Immigration Department suggest that there was a
The Rt Hon Malcolm Rifkind QC MP
House of Commons
LONDON SW1A OAA
/misunderstanding