TNAG-0318-FCO40-354-Legislation-for-immigration-and-deportation-in-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 223

Mr Wilford

Parliamentary

Office

CONFIDENT IAL

with (13.

A

1. The attached Parliamentary Question by Mr Merlyn Rees is

for written reply on 19 July.

2.

There are no new immigration laws in Hong Kong which

restrict the freedom of entry of citizens of the United Kingdom

and Colonies. But Mr Rees is no doubt referring to the

Immigration Bill which was published by the Hong Kong Government

on 9 July with a view to its introduction into the Legislative

Council on 21 July.

3.

Although this Bill does not seek to impose any new

restrictions on the freedom of entry into Hong Kong of citizens

of the United Kingdom and Colonies, it does seek to facilitate

the removal from Hong Kong in certain circumstances (by deportation or otherwise) of British Subjects who are not

belongers of Hong Kong.

4.

We have been in correspondence with Hong Kong since last

October about the terms of the Bill and we have raised certain

queries on it with the Governor.

The Hong Kong Bill of

necessity has to be viewed against the background of the

United Kingdom's own Immigration Bill now before Parliament

and our consideration of the Hong Kong Bill is made more

difficult by the fact that we cannot yet be certain of the

final form which the United Kingdom legislation will take.

CONFIDENTIAL

15.