FROM
No. 623.
IMMEDIATE.
COPY FOR CILTRATION
CONF. CODE TELEGRAM
O.A.G.
D. 8th October, 1940.
R. 8th
HONG KONG,
09.50.hre.
54064/40
RECEIVED -80CT 1940
C
8.
44
Your secret telegram No. 537 Immigration.
Following
recommendations of Excess Population Reduction Committee reports /P 4 of 1940, copy sent to Colonial Office 30th July, services of an officer from Malaya were obtained to draw up scheme for regulation of immigration into the Colony.
This scheme is based on Ordinance No. 8 of 1934 (Immigration and passports) and on reports of Excess Population Reduction Committee.
It provides for interrogation of each person coming from outside the Colony and arriving by steamer junk aeroplane and ferry andfor rejection of persons who are considered undesirable.
There is no provision for any quota of immigrants in the scheme. Complete control will rest with the Governor in Council and conditions of entry to persons without valid documents of entry can be made more strict at any time to suit the circumstances, Pressure can also be brought to bear on any class of traffic whether by steamer (river or ocean going) junk or ferry whenever the Government considers it necessary to do
Similar conditions can be relaxed.
90.
7ly
In fixing fees and type of permit following classes of persons have been kept in mind:- (a) Genuine small trader who is a valuable conomic asset to the Colony (b) Feusant and fisherman who live on the border or in nearby territory and are in the habit of paying frequent visits for trading purposes to the Colony (c) Local resident who wishes to visit his relative or wants his relative to visit him with the minimum amount of trouble.
Scheme is one of issue of documents which will be valid for re- entry into the Colony. Each of these will have period of validity and document can be used for any number of journeys during this period. Document issued will be of three kinds:- Entry permit, certificate of residence and frontier passes.
Scheme is on elastic lines and will allow of employers supplementing labour market and of refugees entering the Colony under certain conditions whilst on the other hand enabling the Government to prevent entrance of idle diseased and impoverished persons who embarresS the Defence and Public Health authorities. So far from the scheme requiring ell Chinese to have passports (which would be issued by the Chinese authorities) it is recognised that most Chinese have no passports so that it provides for local issue of documents which will be accepted in lieu of passports for entry into the Colony.
Legislation is now in draft to give effect to the scheme and it is proposed after further consideration to publish this week the bill for information together with full explanation of the scheme which has notyet been given any publicity in detail. Scheme is in conformity with existing laws and treaties and has the full support in principle of my Executive Council and, I am assured, of all responsible Chinese opinion here. Preparations for stuffing and administration of the new Immigration. Department now in hand;
at is expected permit fees will go far to
meet the costs of the new Department. Full details will be sent to you by mail in due course,
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.