CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Youde
Flag12 1.
2.
ELISTOV
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HICK 14/5
PIA
We discussed a reply to Hong Kong telegram no. 293.
(13)
I submit a draft telegram accordingly cleared with
Mr Evans. We agreed that HKIOD should deal with this question
now, to avoid delay, but that before submitting to our new
Minister on the whole problem, you would consider whether FED
or HKIOD should take the lead. The problem is that legal immigra-
tion through Lowu, which primarily involves discussions with the
Chinese, is obviously an FED subject. Illegal immigration is also
clearly for FED when it involves requests for extradition by the
Chinese Government. But when internal Hong Kong questions are at
issue, such as whether the Hong Kong Government can safely return
immigrants from the border areas or from the urban areas of Kowloon,
it is perhaps more for us.
Finally, questions of deportation from
Hong Kong to third countries are more clearly an HKIOD
responsibility. I have no view on where the balance of advantage
lies.
I have varied the telegram to take account of Hong Kong Tel 300 to which you are replying separately
8 March 1974
Mr Evans
сс
A C Stuart
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.
Tel to issire