CONFIDENTIAL
4.
The Embassy at Tokyo telegraphed to the Governor on
10 September that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were inclined
to agree to the proposal, but that the Japanese security
authorities were strongly opposed on the grounds that they
would lose control over the entry into Japan of subversive
In their telegram the Embassy stated that they
would need a good deal more ammunition to use with the Japanese
before making a further approach. Hong Kong's reply to the
telegram is still awaited:
elements.
5. On a previous occasion, in 1966, when the matter was
raised formally with the Japanese the Ministry of Justice also
objected on the grounds that it had had considerable trouble
in getting rid of the significant number of Hong Kong Chinese
who entered Japan, ostensibly as tourists with visas, and then
stayed to work. Apparently, while there are provisions in
Japanese law for deportation, there is no source of money to
pay for it. No effective means exist therefore of dealing with
undesirable aliens. The Japanese were not impressed with Hong
Kong's offer made at that time to accept back all Chinese from
Hong Kong - even stateless Chinese travelling on Hong Kong
certificates of identity after their expiry.
6.
P
they were
Again in 1967 the Japanese made it very plain
prepared even to suspend part of the United Kingdum-Japan
Agreement that they did not wish Hong Kong Chinese to enter
Japan without visas. This was because many Hong Kong residents
holding United Kingdom and Colonies passports issued in Hong
Kong contrived to "lose" their existing passports while abroad
and to receive in return new British passports issued by a
consular officer. Travelling on these, in accordance with the
/letter...
-2-
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.