TNAG-0095-FCO40-131-Heung-Yee-Kuk-delegation-visit-to-the-United-Kingdom-1968 — Page 47

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vouchers was only 160 last year. This figure is far from being adequate to cope with the demand of Chinese restaurants for workers. In our opinion Hong Kong, being one of the few remaining colonies, should be treated differently from other Commonwealth independent countries. We feel therefore that there is a case for consideration to be given to allowing a greater number of Hong Kong Chinese to come to Britain.

Apart from the reason already given, i.e. the relationship between Britain and Hong Kong, we consider that the following reasons are also relevant to the issue in question:-

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a) The Hong Kong Chinese in Britain have an excellent record they are law-abiding citizens and have come to this country mostly to operate restaurants for a decent livelihood; they have fulfilled their obligations as citizens of this country and generally speaking, have not become a liablity to the State.

b)

Immigration from Hong Kong to the United Kingdom has not reduced the job opportunities for local people because practically all the Hong Kong Chinese come here to work in restaurants which, for obvious reasons, cannot possibly employ non-Chinese particularly for the kitchens.

c)

Although the rate of expansion of Chinese restaurants has been slowed down in the past two years, there is still a general shortage of labour and hence room for more imm igrants from Hong Kong willing to work in Chinese restaurants. At present many of the wives and children of restaurant owners are forced by circumstances to work in restaurants because of the shortage of helping hands. This is obviously undesirable from a family point of view especially when the children are still young and has resulted in children being sent back to Hong Kong because the wives have not been able to look after them.

Recreational Facilities

In the course of our tour many Chinese have expressed to us the wish of having their children educated in both English and Chinese. This feeling is well understandable to us because we, as parents, do not want our children to grow up without a knowledge of our own language. We do not have time to look into the matter in detail but we would venture to seek clarification on two basic questions:-

a)

In what way can Her Majesty's Government assist in solving the problem of education of Chinese children in the Chinese language and in establishing special schools or classes for the education of children below a certain age group?

b) If Chinese schools or Anglo-Chinese schools were to be established would Her Majesty's Government be prepared to relax the immigration regulations to admit qualified teachers from Hong Kong to teach in these schools?

...(3) Dissemination