§ 38. Air-Commodore Harveyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the prewar population of Hong Kong; the estimated present population; and if there 1952 are any restrictions on the entry of Chinese into Hong Kong at present.
Mr. Creech JonesThe population of Hong Kong was estimated at mid-year 1939 at 1,050,256, including 23,611 non-Chinese. In March, 1941, a population count covering Kowloon and Hong Kong was conducted by the Hong Kong Corps of Air Raid Wardens, the results of which, together with an estimate of the population of the new territories, gave a figure of 1,639,337. No more recent figures are available. There are no restrictions at present on the entry of Chinese into Hong Kong from China, though Chinese coming by sea from other countries than China are subject to the usual immigration control.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyIs the Minister aware that there has been a large influx of Chinese into Hong Kong and that the administration shows signs of not being able to cope with the situation? Will he get up-to-date figures of population?
Mr. Creech JonesIt is impossible to get up-to-date figures of the population immediately, but as to the question of the influx of people from the mainland, that matter is continuously before us.