CO129-591-8 Policy directives 10-3-1944 - 17-8-1944 — Page 141

HONG KONG DIRECTIVE.

FIRST DRAFT.

140

Imigration Control at.

1. The traditional policy of ongong has always been to

encourage the free influx of Chinese and for many years the baromete

of prosperity was felt to be the number of full and empty tenements in the Colony. The chief inducements were law and order, sanctity

of contrecte, better (if other more expensive) cocial services and

the anglw for political refugees ensured by the tema of the

extradition treaties.

Apa-t from this there was very large dully traffic of

shoppers from a considerable area of South Chire, particl rl in

the form of "travelling traders", who each exscuted commissions

(including to some extent banking and foreign exchange transactions) on belelf of the inhabitenta cf a village or n district. This contributed meterially to the Colony's prosperity.

3. As the Colony has no natural resources whatever (unless a fine harbour can be so included) it must chiefly de end, as in the

past, on its asset of good will. It will be the object, as soon as

the militery exigencies permit, to restore that free access on which the Japanese during their occupation have

been forced, because of their incompetence in the matter of food supplies, to put drastic

rgetric tiens.

There

Tovards the ond of 1940 the \Immigration Control Ordinance (No. 32 of 1940) was passed in an attempt to stem the flood of im igrants which Japanese aggression in chins had encouraged. was some opposition to this messure on the part of the Chungking Governmen, and in the statement of objecte and scɛaons the following cords were used:.

"The scheme is an emergency messure to meet abnorml conditione; and it is the intention of the Government to re-examine the whole problem so soon as the situation permita".

6. This Ordinance proved unsatisfactory in its working and i ta

repeal was in contemplation when the Pacific War opened.

/6.