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VISIT OF LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS TO HONG KONG (11-17 JANUARY 1975): PUBLIC LINE TO TAKE.
LEGAL AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA
1.
It can be said that the main increase in immigration from China has been in the form of legal immigration, sanctioned by the Chinese authorities. What has been the result of the, discussions which the British Government has had with the Chinese Government to reduce the number to a more tolerable level?
2.
3.
As a result of discussions with the Chinese Government, the daily average of legal immigrants has dropped from some 240 in September 1973 to some 90 at present.
We
should like to see this number further reduced.
Has any agreement been reached on a quota acceptable to both sides?
We have made our wishes known to the Chinese Government
and are grateful for the steps they have taken to reduce the flow of immigrants into Hong Kong. But we would like
to see a further reduction.
Are the Chinese leaders sympathetic to our view that mounting legal immigration into Hong Kong is imposing too great a strain on our resources, and that the Chinese population in Hong Kong is bound to suffer if legal immigration continues at its present rate?
This is a problem which has to be solved by cooperation and understanding. The Chinese Government understands our predicament and we understand the difficulties they
face.
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14.
Joes