§ 60. Sir W. Teelingasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what time limit the Hong Kong Government allow immigrants from the Chinese mainland to prove that they are escaping from Chinese territory for political or humanitarian reasons; whether they consult Her Majesty's Government in London before making a decision to return them as illegal immigrants; and what steps they take under the Human Rights Declaration of 1948 to see if other countries, including Formosa, will take these people in if Hong Kong cannot accommodate them.
§ Mr. SandysThere is no specific time limit: immigrants intercepted while attempting illegal entry are not returned until inquiries have been made. The decision whether or not to admit a person is within the competence of the local authorities. They would consult me on general policy and on individual cases if special considerations arose. Admission has never been refused to a person seeking entry in circumstances covered by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.