TNAG-0801-FCO40-1005-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 52

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CONFIDENTIAL

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Shortly after the promulgation of the "quota" on 1st May 1950, it was felt necessary to tighten up restriction by requiring all Chinese who entered Hong Kong by ship from ports north of Kwangtung to hold Hong Long entry permits before they could be admitted. This was necessary because the "balancing' quota, which worked well in respect of ships entering from Macao, Swatow and Canton, could not work in respect of ships coming from further north. After discussion with shipping agents, it was agreed that an entry permit system was the only way in which restriction on Chinese entering by sea from ports north of Kwangtung could work, without making life too difficult for the shipping agents. It was also considered that as most of the Chinese coming from ports north of Kwangtung were Northerners anyway, imposition of a more restrictive entry. permit system was consistent with the distinction between Cantonese and non-Cantonese in terms of their connections with Hong Kong. With effect from 15th June, 1950, therefore, all persons entering from ports north of Kwangtung were required to hold H.K. entry permits, which they could apply for from the office of the Chargé d'Affaires in Peking, or more conveniently from shipping agents operating between Hong Kong and China, or through their relatives in Hong Kong. Simultaneously, to prevent non-Cantonese from evading this requirement by travelling to Hong Kong by land through Canton, all non-Cantonese were required to hold H.K. entry permits even if they were to enter Hong Kong from Kwangtung, i.e. across the land

border.

8.

On 12th February 1951, because of the mass exodus of Chinese from China to Hong Kong, the CFG authorities also imposed

This a system of entry and exit permits for Kwangtung Province. restricted considerably outward movement of population from China and, as a result, the (Hong Kong) quota system was allowed to lapse in 1952. However, the position deteriorated again following the lapse of the quota system to such an extent that, on 5th March 1955, the quota system was reimposed. At the same time, the "balance" of the quota was officially changed to "one-in, one-out". However, in July 1955, as a result of local pressures claiming that it was unfair to include Hong Kong residents travelling to and returning from China in the "balancing quota", it was decided to allow "bona fide residents of Hong Kong" to re-enter Hong Kong outside the quota arrangements. They were to be issued with "Chinese Frontier Fasses" which later became H.K. Re-entry Fermits, for their trips to China (and Macao). The balancing quota" at the same time became a "fixed-number quota", at 50 entrants from China per day (excluding entry permit holders and Chinese Frontier Pass/Re-entry Permit holders), irrespective of the number of persons leaving Hong Kong for China. It continued until 10th February, 1956 when it was lifted temporarily as a result of CFG pressures, but was again reimposed on 3rd September 1956. This was done without the agreement of the Chinese authorities who made it clear that they did not approve of the arrangement. It continued in force from then until 1967.

/Immigration Control

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