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I
PRIORITY
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 3007552
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL "RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No. 51
30SEP 1971
HKK18/10
46
TOP COPY
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 722 OF 30TH SEPTEMBER 1971.
YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 686.
IMMIGRATION BILL.
I AM MOST GRATEFUL FOR THIS TELEGRAM.
LART
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2. UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAVE NOW ASKED FOR THE SECOND READING TO BE FURTHER DEFERRED UNTIL THE 13TH OCTOBER, AND HAVE PROPOSED THAT ALL STAGES SHOULD BE COMPLETED ON
THAT DATE.
3. CLAUSE 19 OF THE BILL AT PRESENT PROTECTS A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND COLONIES ORDINARILY RESIDENT IN THE COLONY FOR 10 YEARS FROM DEPORTATION. YOU HAVE ALREADY AGREED THAT THE 10 YEAR PERIOD SHOULD BE REDUCED TO 7.
4. UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAVE NOW ALSO URGED THAT THIS PROTECTION SHOULD BE RESTRICTED IN TWO RESPECTS. FIRSTLY, THEY HAVE ASKED THAT THE PROTECTION GIVEN BY THIS CLAUSE SHOULD BE RESTRICTED TO PERSONS BORN, NATURALISED OR ADOPTED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ITSELF OR THE CHILDREN OF SUCH PERSONS. OTHER CITIZENS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND COLONIES SHOULD BE TREATED IN THE SAME WAY AS
OTHER BRITISH SUBJECTS.
5. SECONDLY, UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAVE STRONGLY URGED THAT THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL MUST RETAIN A RESIDUAL POWER TO DEPORT A PERSON OF UNITED KINGDOM ORIGIN EVEN THOUGH HE HAS BEEN HERE FOR MORE THAN 7 YEARS IF THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL IS SATISFIED THAT THE DEPORTATION OF THE PERSON IS NECESSARY ON THE GROUNDS OF NATIONAL SECURITY OR FOR POLITICAL REASONS AFFECTING THE RELATIONS OF HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WITH
ANOTHER COUNTRY.
6. MEMBERS HAVE PUT FORWARD THEIR FIRST REQUEST ON THE GROUND THAT ALTHOUGH THEY ARE WILLING TO SEE A SPECIAL PROTECTION GIVEN. TO UNITED KINGDOM BELONGERS THEY SEE NO REASON TO EXTEND THIS TO THE LARGER CLASS OF CITIZENS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND COLONIES WHO CANNOT BE SAID TO HAVE THE SAME CLAIM ON THE COLONY AS A UNITED KINGDOM BELONGER.
7. IN VIEW OF OUR PARTICULAR GEORGRAPHICAL AND POLITICAL PROBLEMS I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO RESIST THE STRONGLY HELD FEELING OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS THAT THERE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE
A RESIDUARY POWER, HOWEVER SELDOM USED, TO DEPORT UNITED KINGDOM
CONFIDENTIAL
/BELONGERS WHO
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