TNAG-0318-FCO40-354-Legislation-for-immigration-and-deportation-in-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 42

Mr Wilford

Mr Logan

€

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN

REGISTRY No.51

-OCCT 1971

18/10

HKL 18/10

Hated.

A. R.

40

37

لله

سول الله

33

18

A

B

C

HONG KONG IMMIGRATION BILL

1. The governor has now replied (Hong Kong telegram No 648)

to FCO telegrams Nos 628 and 639. He has decided to defer

the second reading of the Bill until 1 October. His

original views were set out in Hong Kong telegram No 588.

2. The main point in my earlier submission of 27 August

dealt with the establishment of some form of independent

authority to look into the facts in certain cases involving

the removal or deportation from Hong Kong of citizens of the

United Kingdom and Colonies. The Governor has met us on

this point (paragraph 3 of his telegram No 648).

3. We made two other proposals.

First, we suggested that

The

the power to refuse admission should not be exercised by an

immigration officer acting on his own discretion and that the

authority of a senior officer should always be obtained.

Governor has now told us that the power to refuse permission

to land is already restricted to the rank of senior immigration

officer and that there will be no change in this respect under

the new legislation. Migration and Visa Department consider

that this Hong Kong proposal should be accepted.

4.

We agree.

Secondly, the Governor has proposed that citizens of the

-dependent terriborda

United Kingdom and Colonies to

should cease to be subject to immigration control after 7 years

rather than 5 years as proposed in FCO telegram No 628. He

bases this proposal partly on the fact that under the existing

1

CONFIDENTIAL

/Hong Kong