§ Mr. HOUSTONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the 600W Census figures will be available for the information of Members; whether he will in the meantime ascertain from the chief constable of Liverpool the number of Chinese in Liverpool; what occupations they are engaged in ostensibly; how they arrived in Liverpool; how many Chinese females there are resident in Liverpool; whether he will obtain similar information from the chief constables of Birkenhead and Bootle; whether he will introduce legislative measures to expel Chinese from the country; and whether he will endeavour to learn how these Chinese arrived and settled in Liverpool, and who is responsible for their introduction?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI cannot answer the first of these questions; and, as regards the suggested inquiries, I do not feel justified in asking the police to conduct a special census of the kind indicated. Persons of Chinese nationality are subject to the same liability to expulsion as other aliens if they misbehave themselves, and I see no reason for any special measures against them. It is impossible to say, without a domiciliary inquisition—which is not in my opinion justified—how and in what circumstances individual Chinamen now resident in Liverpool or elsewhere arrived in the United Kingdom; but I may say that from returns obtained under the Aliens Act, 1905, it appears that the numbers of Chinese, other than seamen, who arrived at Liverpool as steerage passengers were 142 in 1909 and 97 in 1910. The question of Chinese immigration into Liverpool has been engaging the attention of my Department, and I have now under consideration the steps which may be necessary to deal with it.
§ Mr. HOUSTONasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that during the twelve months ending 31st March, 1911, 212 Chinese seamen deserted from vessels in the port of Liverpool, and that a further 543 Chinese seamen were paid off from vessels in the port of Liverpool during that period; whether he will ascertain if these 755 Chinese are still in Liverpool and neighbourhood; and whether he will take steps to relieve Liverpool from the presence of these aliens, and, if so, what measures he proposes to adopt?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have not previously seen the figures given by the hon. Member; and they do not, of course, come within my cognisance in the administration of the Aliens Act, as the provisions of that Act do not apply to ships' crews. 601W Assuming the figures to be accurate, it would, of course, be impossible to make a separate inquiry with regard to each of the 755 individuals; but I will consult the chief constable and see whether he can give me any information on the subject.