CO129-604-5 Immigration- control over entry from China 4-3-1948 - 6-1-1949 — Page 70

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The other members of this Council stressed the same points and I can give both the Hon. Dr. Li and the Hon. Mr. Tam the assurance of sympathetic administration by the officer selected to administer this Bill. It is well known that they are officers with experience in the Department of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs. The Immigration Officer and his deputy have both worked in that office and speak Chinese. I am sure they will administer the Bill in no hostile fashion.

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There is one other assurance I have been asked to give, and that is to re-iterate what I said at the first reading that these residential certificates are certificates for persons who have been in the Colony for such and such a length of time and will be accepted in lieu of a passport for entry if the person is outside the Colony and wishes to return. They are not permits to stay in the Colony, and persons who are already in the Colony and who do not desire to go out and return do not require to have them.

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