asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies approximately how many of Chinese race have left Hong Kong for immigration to the United Kingdom during each of the past five years; what arrangements exist in Hong Kong for the assistance, guidance and control of such immigrants; and whether they must possess a valid Commonwealth passport to enable them to emigrate from Hong Kong to the United Kingdom or any Commonwealth countries willing for them to enter.

As the reply to the first part of the Question involves a tabular statement I am circulating it with the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The Hong Kong Government provides information and advice for all persons wishing to go to the United Kingdom to take up work. It exercises control in so far as this is necessary to meet British immigration requirements.

If the intending emigrant is a British subject he requires a British passport: if he is an alien Chinese he requires a Hong Kong Certificate of Identity guaranteeing re-entry into Hong Kong.

Does the information state how many of these are British Chinese and how many are non-British Chinese? Can he also say how many are coming to this country to open restaurants, as some have done in my constituency? Does the statement also include information regarding the numbers of those refused entry?

The information certainly breaks the figures down to specify British and alien Chinese. That is why the statement is rather long. I do not think I have figures of those coming to restaurants in this country but I will ascertain them from the Governor and let the hon. Gentleman know later. Broadly speaking, the figures, excluding students, in the past five years seem to have varied between 1,000 and 2,000 a year. In addition there have been about 2,000 students.

Following are the figures:

Excluding Students, the number of Chinese who have left Hong Kong to take up work in the United Kingdom are:

Excluding students, the numbers in the past 5 years seem to vary between about 1,000 and 2,000 per annum. The total in the 5 years is about 7,000 or so. In addition there have been about 2,000 students in the last 5 years.