CO129-604-4 Immigration- control over entry from China 7-3-1947 - 5-11-1947 — Page 2

1 Extract from the "Times

7-3-47

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The concern expressed in the article in to-day's Times (at 1) which discussed the problems arising from the unrestricted influ. of Chinese into Hong Kong, is reflected in P.Q.s which have been put down within the past week or so. See particularly 54145/13/PQ1, and 28241/17/P2dow.

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So long as conditions on the Chinese mainland remain as unstable as at present and immigration into Hong Kong is unrestricted there is likely to be a heavy flow of population into the Colony. obvious, however, that there is a point at which the Colony's capacity for absorption is reached. is virtually impossible to raise the general standards of the mass of the people whether in terms of cost of living, availability of supplies, or provision or social services whilst this inflow operates with the reverse effect of depressing general standards. The problem is as old as Hong Kong, but it is when conditions in China are particularly chaotic that it becomes acute.

It is, however, not true, as the Times correspond- ent says, that no restrictions have been enforced against Chinese immigration. Restrictions were attempt on the establishment of Military Government, but due to lack of the necessary staff it was found impossible to make the regulations erfective. On the 15th November, 1945, therefore all immigration restrictions against Chinese from China were lifted, In the words of the Commander-in-Chief:

"We cancelled restrictions we could not enforce and Canton offered food she does not possess. "}

In February of last year in connection with the critical world food situation the Cabinet expressed alarm that Hong Kong's food requirements were being artificially swollen by immigration from the mainland and the Commander-in-Chief was asked to consider whether any steps could be taken to check the flow of Chinese. The ma jor measure which was taken was the restricting of the issue or rice tickets to persons who could prove that they had been resident in the Colony prior to the war but the actual immigration restrictions were not reintroduced.

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I suggest that we should inform the Governor, grounds it has in an airmail despatch of the Times article and the alway

ways been 1 Questions that have been asked in the House and ask polech ins Hong Koy increase of popul tion due to immigration and whether

him to report on the present situation as regards I alow

he considers it calls for any measures to lessen the evereto che number of immigrants.

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