CONFIDENTIAL
7.
Sir Murray MacLehose agreed, but said that if illegal immigrants were returned to China, there was likely to be trouble in particular cases from their relatives in Hong Kong. However, the pressure of immigration into Hong Kong required some solution. Ideally this would mean action by the Chinese Government to cut down legal immigration through Lo Wu as well as the return of some illegals. At the time of the Cultural Revolution the Chinese had altered their policy by refusing to accept the return of illegal immigrants. But the situation was changing. Exploratory discussions with the Chinese through his Political Adviser were going ahead, although it was too early to say how they would turn
out.
8.
Lord Goronwy-Roberts asked whether there had been any Parliamentary interest in the compulsory return of immigrants to China when this was customary before 1967. He could recall none. Sir Murray MacLehose said he thought not.
9.
Summing up, Lord Goronwy-Roberts said that he was content for the discussions with the Chinese to go ahead on the present
lines.
VISIT TO HONG KONG
10.
Lord Goronwy-Roberts said he had concluded that he should not plan to go to Hong Kong in October. He would like to visit the Colony as soon as possible but would need to be able to show some results from his visit. He asked Sir Murray MacLehose to consider whether this would be possible in the context of a visit, say, in January 1975.
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.
29 July 1974
Distribution
Sir D Watson
Mr Wilford
Mr Male
FED
HKIOD to enter
M&VD
Sir Murray MacLehose KCMG MBE, Hong Kong (Personal)
CONFIDENTIAL