§ 76. Mr. Snowasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies if he will make representations to the Government of India regarding the exceptional treatment on 11th March, 1964, of two Hong Kong individuals, of Chinese race and bearing British passports, when they arrived at Bombay Airport; if he is aware that this case was reported to the Immigration Office at Hong Kong by the hon. Member for Lichfield and Tamworth; and what action has been taken.
§ Mr. SandysThe Government of India requires persons of Chinese origin in transit through India to possess a visa if they wish to leave the airport. This requirement was imposed as a security measure following the Chinese attack on India. We understand the Indian Government's anxieties, but nevertheless we are opposed to discriminatory treatment as between one United Kingdom citizen and another. Vile therefore made representations to the Indian Government; but in the situation arising from the Chinese aggression they were not prepared to relax their regulations.