§ 8. Colonel WOODCOCKasked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the case at the East Ham Police Court, when five Chinamen admitted they had not the authority permitting them to land in this country; and if he has any information showing how foreigners of this type can evade the law and settle in this country?
§ 11. Sir ROBERT THOMASasked the Home Secretary whether the police raids which have recently been made upon the Chinese quarters in several ports have produced any evidence that Chinese are being secretly introduced into this country without passports?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSHaving reason to think that arrangements to bring Chinamen into this country by irregular means were in existence, I determined recently on a search of Chinese establishments. The five Chinamen referred to in the question by the hon. and gallant Member for Everton (Colonel Woodcock) were arrested in the course of this search. These cases must be considered sub judice at present, and it is not, I think, desirable that I should at any time specify in detail the information which has come into my possession as to the methods of those who have been responsible for the irregularities. I can assure the House that I am keeping a very sharp watch on this matter.
§ Mr. WALLHEADIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a large number of Chinamen have recently been arrested at the Embassy Club and the Kit-Cat Club?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSPerhaps the hon. Member has more knowledge than I have.
§ Mr. WALLHEADI thought perhaps the right hon. Gentleman might impart some information about the Kit-Cat Club.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that if he made a similar search in West End restaurants and hotels he would find a large number of other nationalities Who got in by irregular means?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI shall be most grateful if the hon. Gentleman will place any information at my disposal.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESIs it the right hon. Gentleman's job or mine to exclude aliens?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSIt is the job of all loyal Englishmen to assist the law.
§ 9. Mr. BUCHANANasked the Home Secretary if he is aware that a number of persons of foreign birth who have resided in this country for a long number of years and who have excellent characters, and who in some cases served in the War and in others had sons and relatives serving, are kept from securing citizenship of this country by the fee 1199 charged; and if he will consider lowering this fee and making character and length of residence the main test for citizenship?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am not aware that the present fee of £10, which I do not consider too much for the high privilege of British nationality, acts as a serious deterrent to would-be applicants for naturalisation, and the number of applications I receive does not suggest this. I have always regarded character and length of residence, in conjunction with assimilation of British ideas and habits, as the principal qualifications for the grant of a certificate of naturalisation.
§ 26. Mr. STEPHENasked the Home Secretary the number of Chinese who have been arrested in this country since 1st February, the grounds of arrest, and the time detained; and how many were released without any charges being made against them and the charges made against those who have not been released?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI regret that I am not in a position to supply the particulars asked for by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. STEPHENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that within the last fortnight there have been many arrests made of Chinese people in various restaurants and clubs?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI said, in answer to a question earlier in the day, that I had directed searches to be made of all Chinese haunts, because I had reason to believe that Chinese were coming in without proper passports.
§ Mr. STEPHENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of these Chinese haunts was the Embassy Club and the other the Kit-Cat Club, and is he aware——
§ Mr. SPEAKERThese particular cases ought to be put down on the Paper.
§ Mr. STEPHENI would like to ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware that some of the Chinese who have been taken to the police station by the police were put into cells for two or three hours and that when it was found that their 1200 papers were in order they were released; and will he make inquiries into the matter?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSIt is quite impossible to answer questions of detail of that kind, but, if the hon. Member will give me notice, I will inquire into any particular case.