Summary

Letter from Hans Hukom in Jakarta, Indonesia to Richard and Edith Winnett in Gundagai, New South Wales, dated 1 November, 1968. He thanks the Winnetts for their letter dated 19/9/68 which arrived after his letter of 1/10/68 and which included the Department of Immigration letter, presumably rejecting his application. He refers to a letter from the Australian Embassy dated 11/10/68, also informing him of the failure of his application.

Hans still states his desire to come to Australia and wonders if it is 'because I am coloured although I have a Dutch name and a Dutch education.' Hans questions why a friend has been able to gain entry recently and he, although better qualified, cannot. He states he is still leaving the matter with the Winnetts to help him but 'I don't hold out any hope.'

This is one of a collection of 40 documents and four photographs relating to the unsuccessful attempts by Hans Hukom, an Indonesian citizen, to migrate to Australia between 1968 and 1972.

Significance

Statement of Historical Significance:
Hans Hukom's documents provide an insight, at times frustrating and poignant, into one person's attempts to seek approval to immigrate, the vagaries of bureaucracy, and the likely influence of the White Australia policy in his ultimate lack of success, still officially in force at that time.

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