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Thumbprint identification for Chinese migrants – requirements
[Handwritten heading:] Aliens Registration thumb prints of Chinese
In the Manual of Instructions we laid it down that thumb prints should be taken of alien residents and incoming passengers who could not write, and of coloured crews in all cases. There is power under the Act to require any alien to give his thumbprint, but, as our instructions stand, officers might interpret them that Chinese residents or passengers arriving from overseas need not give their thumbprints on the aliens registration forms if they can write their names.
2. I was not previously aware that there was an instruction by Defence Department that thumb prints should be taken of Chinese in all cases. The Aliens Regn ['Registration' – added by hand] Officers at Sydney and Melbourne who examined our draft instructions did not bring it under notice.
3. The police authorities at Sydney ask if it is the intention that thumb prints of Chinese should be taken. As it is useful in connection with the administration of the Immigration Act that thumb prints should be taken of Chinese ['as' – added by hand] a general rule, I suggest that we tell the police that it is desired that the former practice should be continued, with the exception, perhaps, that in the case of Chinese of superior standing and who can write, the officers may use discretion in dispensing with the thumb prints.
