HONG KONG (CHINESE IMMIGRANTS) (Hansard, 22 May 1962)

§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Reginald Maudling)
I will, with permission, Sir, answer Question No. 38.
Restrictions are necessary because there is a limit to the number of immigrants from mainland China that Hong Kong can now absorb, while there is virtually no limit to the number of Chinese who may seek entry. More than 1 million Chinese have entered Hong Kong in the past twelve years, and with a total population of 3.2 million, Hong Kong is very overcrowded. Nevertheless, about 60,000 still enter the Colony, legally or illegally, every year.

§ Sir W. Teeling
In thanking my right hon. Friend for that statement, may I ask whether he can suggest what can be done for these refugees? One million—or as many of them as are coming out—is surely a very small proportion of 600 million. Is it not possible that there may be some political meaning in this sudden rush? Is it not possible that the idea is to drive in a kind of Trojan horse to try to get some Communists into Hong Kong and cause further trouble there?
Formosa already had a population of 5 million, which has increased to 11 million over the last ten years. Surely 227 it is impossible to get many more there. Again, they would be Communists going to an anti-Communist country. Can my right hon. Friend do anything internationally, through Geneva or through America?

§ Mr. Maudling
This is a difficult problem. It is hard to be certain what the reason is. Very few other countries have so far shown any particular desire to receive large numbers of Chinese, and the Hong Kong authorities have done extremely well. Whatever may happen in the future, we must have effective control of the numbers coming into Hong Kong.

§ Mr. G. M. Thomson
Whilst we appreciate the difficulties of Hong Kong in this matter, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a great deal of concern that so many refugees wishing to leave China, for whatever reason, should have to be turned back? Will he therefore take up with the American Government, perhaps through the United Nations, the question whether something could not be done to provide a place for more of these refugees to go, and also perhaps to provide some of the food surpluses in the developed parts of the world to help to alleviate the famine conditions in China?

§ Mr. Maudling
Those are wider questions. The trouble is that the potential numbers are so colossal. Whatever happens in the future, we must be absolutely certain of having control of immigration into Hong Kong.

§ Mr. Ridsdale
Is there any evidence of malnutrition among the refugees?

§ Mr. Maudling
I understand that there is very little evidence of malnutrition.

§ Mr. Grimond
The performance of Hong Kong in this respect has been quite remarkable, and deserves the thanks of the civilised world. Can the right hon. Gentleman give us an idea of the number of Chinese now going through Hong Kong, where they are going, and whether America has suggested taking any of them in America itself?

§ Mr. Maudling
I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for what he has said about the Hong Kong authorities. He is perfectly right in his tribute. At the moment, the permitted number is 228 50 a day and any numbers in excess of that we are holding up and turning back. Very few other countries have shown any inclination to receive substantial numbers of Chinese.

§ Dame Irene Ward
For a long time we have been led to believe that famine has, so to speak, been eliminated from China, so before we decide on what we can do to help if the people are really hungry, can we have a factual statement as to the food situation inside China?

§ Mr. Maudling
I am not sure that even the Chinese Government are quite certain about that.

Miss Lee
Would the right hon. Gentleman keep in mind that although there is doubt about the extent of famine or otherwise in China, doubt about the degree of malnutrition among the refugees and doubt about whether there is any political motivation, there is no doubt that these refugees are in very great distress? Will he make all possible representations to other Western Governments, beginning with the United States Government and our own, to see that the maximum help is given to them, and also bear in mind that we could turn a very awkward situation into an opportunity for the West if we showed that kind of humanist reaction to the situation?

§ Mr. Maudling
I think that the reaction of Hong Kong has been humanist, but it would not be humanist to accept a flood of people for whom one could not care. Our first contact must be with the Chinese authorities. It is hard to know precisely what is the significance of this development, and how long it will last.

§ Mr. S. Silverman
Can the right hon. Gentleman give any information about the alleged refusal of the United States to sell its surplus wheat to China for hard international currency? If this attitude were changed, might it not have an effect on the flow of refugees? Moreover, would the right hon. Gentleman explain why, since it was so morally wrong to build a wall in Germany to keep refugees in, it is right in Hong Kong to build a wall to keep them out?

§ Mr. Maudling
The question of American wheat sales is not for me, and, in any case, it could have no effect on 229 the immediate position. There is nothing particularly moral in allowing a vast number of refugees to swamp a Colony which is already overcrowded.

§ Mr. Gaitskell
Has the right hon. Gentleman really no idea why this flood is coming in suddenly? Is it not possible to find out what is happening from those allowed through? Have we any information from our Mission in Peking?

§ Mr. Maudling
The policy of the Chinese border guards has changed, and that is well known to us. I think that the policy of the Chinese Government and the motives for their actions are no better known to the individual Chinese than they are known in Hong Kong.