RELAXATION OF CONTROL OVER TRAVEL FROM CANTON TO HONGKONG AND MACAO

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000500190136-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 9, 1999
• Sequence Number: 136
• Publication Date: September 23, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

F
Approved For Release 2002/01/03 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000500190136-8
SECURITY INFOAHATION
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
PLACE ACQUIRED
(BY SOURCE)
SUBJECT Relaxation of Control over Travel from Canton
Hongkong and Macao
DAtFP.I_" ACQU I RCD
(BY' SOURCE )
Of T- 7[0 STATES. n.. o. m1.11-1 11 fl- n SEC IC.% nl
AsO n .1 T.S u. S. coos. AS A.ar000. ITS TSA.S.ISU - I
uTIO. Or ITS C-1-1 Tu o. Accu.T S1 1. 1.11 T-AIrtO ll- IS
REPORT NO
I
DATE DISTR.:k3lSeptember53
NO. OF PAGES 2
N0. OF ENCLS.
SUPP. TO
REPORT NO.
1. On 20 Aug 53 it was announced in Canton by the People's Government that thenceforth
regulations for the issuance of travel permits to Hongkong and Macao would be
changed. Plo guarantee as to the return and proper behavior of the traveler by
a store would be required.
2. The general procedure of filing an application, stating thel purpose of the trip
and the length of the stay is still followed. However, examination of the appli-
cant was waived in most cases and the period between the submission of the
application and the issuance of the permit was ohortened considerably -- in
general from two weeks to three or four days.
3. Students desiring to see their relatives and friends were generally granted a
leave of three weeks and people seeL'ine medical treatment in Hongkong or Macao,
about a month. While most students would utilize the stipulated period to the
full extent, city folk who left Canton in search of medical treatment or medical
supplies returned to Canton long before the expiration of the. permit. One
woman whose permit allowed her a full month in Hongkong returned to her home in
Canton at the end of the second week.
i+. Contrary to expectations, there have been more people travelling to Macao than to
Hongkong since the modification of the regulations. This is due to one, or a
combination of the following reasons:
a. Hongkong authorities would not admit, even for a shortlltemporary visit,
any non-Cantonese speaking Chinese; whereas in Macao there is no such
discrimination.
b. The standard. of living is considerably lower in Macao than in Hongkong.
Rice is about 2O-,L cheaper and firewood, for cooking purposes, is almost 2%
cheaper.
LAST PAC. FC SL'uJF-CT & AREA COPS
U.S. Official5 Only
SECURITY INFONM.TION __
OIITRIJUTIUN iTATE -L ARMI )( NAVY X AIR -)( FI' I S
This report Is for the use within the. USA of the. Intelligence components of the Departments ul
Agencies indicated above. It Is not to be tr;tnsl.atted overseas without the concurrence of the
oripinating office through the Assistant Dir-ctor of the 0111ce of Collecticn and Dlsseminutlnn, CIA.
~--- Approved For Release 2002/01/03 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000500190136-8
 Approved For Release 2002/01/03 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000500190116-8
CONFIDENTLIL/US OFFICIALS OBEY/SECURITY I1FORNA'fICSI
c. There are better boat connections between Canton and Macao and travellers
are spared the trouble of undergoing UK passport and other inspections at
the border, near Lo Hu.
d. There is a.general belief among the city people in Canton that it ir,
safer and more' comfortable to live in'Nacao. There is no water-rationing
in'Placao as there is in Hongkong -- from 5 pu everyday to daybreak the
following morning.
e. Pro-nationalist elements are of the oni.nion that Macao is more friendly
to them.
f. ThelChinese Nationalist Government has maintained a special office of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macao, where passports are issued to over-
seas Chinese. There are no such facilities in Hongkong.
5. According to one estimate, there were about 1j500 daily departures for I acao
and about 500 for Hongkong during the period from 22 Jul 53 to 20 Aug 53.
6. Speculation is rife in Canton and in Hongkong as to the reason for the relaxa-
tion of travel controls. Some of the conjectures are the following:
a. Completion of the Communist census An Canton, rendering the old system of
guarantee somewhat unnecessary.
b Easing.off of the unemployment situation in Canton.
C.. Playing up the peace tune, in accord with the Korean Truce propaganda.,
d. 'Using the movement of civilians as a smoke screen for the infiltration of
Hongkong and, Macao with special agents and Communist underground workers.
L16RARY SUBJECT 8e AREA CODES
g/ . i 9 ~ N~~~aL> f/d , 71 9
CONFIDENTTAI./us OFFICIALS ONLY/SECURITY IIF0Rl4ATION
Approved For Release 2002/01/03 : CIA-RDP80-008