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CONFIDENTIAL
was to prevent an exodus from Taiwan and Hainan Island should the CPG launch a successful invasion of these islands following their success on, the Mainland, as was genuinely feared at the time.
4.
However, as the number of Chinese entering Hong Kong remained high and increasing, it was decided in April 1950, with the concurrence of H.M.G. but without consulting C.P.G., to impose restrictions on entry from China and Macao. (N.B. the Macao authorities were consulted and agreed to the restrictions). With effect from 1st May, 1950, all persons of Chinese race entering Hong Kong from Chinese territory contiguous to Hong Kong (i.e. Kwangtung province) and liacao were subjected to a "quota", regardless of their origin (i.e. whether they are Cantonese or not), but no visa or entry permit was required. The quota for entry from Macao was one-in, one-out". The quota for entry from China (including entry by land across the border and by ship from Canton and Swatow) was "four-ins, five-outs". This was because it was considered that "four-ins, five-outs" would be necessary to compensate for the number of Chinese entering Hong Kong illegally to reach a balance of migration.
5.
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In introducing this restriction, it was recognized that many Kwanetung residents, because of the absence of any entry restrictions prior to 1950 (except during the period of the Second World War) and geographical proximity, had close ties with Hong Kong either by way of previous residence in Hong Kong, or on account of close relatives here, or on account of their business activities. The intention was not to debar them from coming to Hong Kong at all, but to control the rate of entry so that there would be a balance of arrivals and departures. Thus, while they were not required to hold any visas or entry permits to Hong Kong to be admitted under the quota, they were required to hold re-entry permits to China. This was necessary to ensure that when they had fulfilled the ostensible purpose of their "visit" to Hong Kong, they could then return to China, if they wanted to. In the event, only a small proportion chose to return; the majority of them chose to stay in Hong Kong and let their re-entry permit to China expire.
6.
This
While the "quota" did not officially distinguish between Cantonese and non-Cantonese, preference was given in practice to admission of "natives of Kwangtung", and efforts were made to "exclude those speaking Northern dialects and who are therefore persons clearly trying to enter Hong Kong for permanent residence, thus constituting permanent additions to the population." was based on the assumption (mentioned in para. 5 above) that many Awangtung residents have close connections with Hong Kong, whereas most northerners (in those days) did not have such connections. the event, many Cantonese did become permanent additions to the population of Hong Kong, but perhaps because of their connections with Hong Kong, they were not considered as new additions to the population. Ferhaps also because of their connections with Hong Kong, it was considered unjustifiable to debar them from coming to Hong Kong for whatever purpose.
17. Shortly after ....
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