HC Deb 02 February 1949 vol 460 cc1668-9
34. Sir Ronald Ross

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements exist for dealing with abnormally large numbers of Chinese wishing to enter Hong Kong; and whether he is satisfied that the defences of the Colony are adequate for any probable contingency.

Mr. Creech Jones

It would not be in the public interest to detail the arrangements, which have been worked out by the Colonial Government in concert with the Service authorities concerned, to meet the eventuality to which the hon. Member refers. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which is being given today to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. T. Reid).

Sir R. Ross

With regard to the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's answer, can he say whether the arrangements which have been worked out, about which he will not tell us, include a definite limitation on the number of people who will be allowed into Hong Kong in view of the danger to the Colony of the presence of large numbers of Chinese and the difficulty of feeding large numbers of people and looking after their health?

Mr. Creech Jones

I can give the fullest assurance that that problem has been most carefully considered.