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Encsure Ro! 2.
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41
EXPULSION OF UNDESIRABLES ORDINANCE, 1949.
Explanatory observations in accordance with Article XXVIII
of the Royal Instructions.
This Ordinance was passed with two amendments on the
31st August, 1949.
2.
The reasons for enacting this Ordinance are set out in
the objects and Reasons to the Bill. A copy of such Bill is
attached as Annexure 'A'.
3. The enactment of legislation such as that under report
has long been contemplated. At an early date following the liberation
of the Colony a heavy incursion of population into Hong Kong commenced.
In 1947 there were large numbers of Chinese, newcomers to the Colony,
having no regular employment or prospect of obtaining any nor any
hope of adequate living conditions. Such conditions naturally
produced serious danger to health and incentive to crime. In these
circumstances a scheme for voluntary repatriation at Government expense
was put in force in 1947. The scheme which achieved only very moderate
success was ancillary to the employment of the Vagrancy Ordinance, 1897,
which applies to Chinese only to the extent provided by amendment of
the Ordinance (No. 41 of 1939), and the Deportation of Aliens Ordinance,
1935, whereby expulsion or deportation of persons coming within the
ambit of that legislation can be effected. For a time the measures
above described sufficed to keep the position reasonably in check but
events in China in this year has created a refugee problem and an
added incentive for incursion into the Colony. At this date there are
large numbers of Chinese, unemployed and unemployable, living in
conditions of great squalor as squatters on any available space in or
about the cities of Victoria and Kowloon. The resultant gross over-
4.
population of the Colony at the present time seriously overtaxes the
resources of the Colony as regards food and water and presents a
constant menace to health, the maintenance of law and order and defence.
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