TNAG-0354-FCO40-390-Legislation-for-immigration-and-deportation-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 128

(2)

who could not be said to have the same claim on the

Colony as a United Kingdom belonger.

In any event it is most likely that the great

majority of cases in which citizens of the United

Kingdom and Colonies are removed or deported from

Hong Kong will either be the result of a Court

recommendation (following a conviction for a criminal

offence) or will involve security or political

considerations;

and it has been agreed all along

that the need for a judicial enquiry could be dispensed

with in such cases (see paragraph 4 above).

(3) The feelings of the Unofficial Members of the

Governor's Executive Council are such that it is

likely that they would be most unwilling to support

any amendment of the Ordinance which would give parity

of treatment in this context to all citizens of the

United Kingdom and Colonies (ie both to United Kingdom

belongers and to others). To achieve the desired

amendment it might therefore be necessary to adopt

the extreme measure of ensuring the passage of the

required legislation through the legislature by the

use of the Governor's casting vote in the Legislative

Council. Such a course would be greatly resented

in Hong Kong and could have serious consequences.

(4) Our relations with the Hong Kong Government have been

under strain for a considerable time; we are at the

moment in the throes of particularly difficult

discussions with them over the subject of the import

5.

/of textiles