SUDDEN RAIDS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 266, 23 August 1949, Page 3

SUDDEN RAIDS

Prohibited Immigrants Arrested STRONG PROTESTS LODGED (N.Z.P. A. —Copyright) (Rec. 11.5 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Sudden raids resulting in arrests of prohibited immigrants under the Wartime Refugees Removal Act have aroused resentment among Chinese residents ir. Sydney. Following a series of raids during the week-end, many Chinese employed in city restaurants have gone into hiding. Immigration Department officials arrested 11 Chinese under the Act, which provides for the deportation of 800 Asiatics who entered Australia an wartime refugees. The arrested men, some of whom are married to Australian girls, are now in Long Bay goal awaiting deportation. The secretary of the Chinese Seamen’s Union, Mr A. Locke, has protested to the Chinese Consul-General about the sudden Gestapo-like arrest of these men, and haa asked him to take vigorous steps to halt this highhanded method and to protect seamen who served the Allies in the war and later became decent workers from being treated like criminals. The Consul-General has protested to the Commonwealth Immigration Department, and asked why the men are being held without being charged with any offence. He was informed that a charge was unnecessary under the Act, but that the men would remain in gaol until after the steamer Taipmg is ready to leave for China in three or four weeks. Bail was refused.

Wealthy Sydney Chinese are raising a fund to challenge the deportations.