COLEPT
aah mata and man, the danga un direk
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identifiable difficulties in the way of their remaining so. We would expect successive Chinese Governments to continue to maintain their view that Hong Kong is part of China; but the degree to which they will pursue this claim will be dependent more on internal political events in China than on events in Hong Kong. HING's present policy is to administer Hong Kong in the interests of its inhabitants and to make it a place in which they can pursue fruitful and productive lives. It is our hope that this will reduc.. the risks of internal disorders in the Colony which might cause the Chinese Government to revise its present attitude of tolerance
towards the status quo.
Would the FCO explain why refugees are being sent back to China?
The question of illegal immigrants has been raised many times in Parliament. In 1974 Hong Kong received about 33,000 legal immigrants from China. The present strains on housing and the social services of the Colony are so severe that in November of that year the Hong Kong Government had to reintroduce the policy (in abeyance since 1967) of refusing entry to those without permission to leave China.
It has also been explained in Parliament that each case is considered on its individual merits and that an illegal immigrant is not returned to China when exceptional humanitari an
considerations are involved.
[Purther points included in defensive briefing attached.]
Why not enlarge the Legislative Council?
The Legislative Council was last increased in 1972 to 30, including 15 Unofficial Hembers. The Hong Kong Government are aware that the workload on present Members is continually increasing. In his annual speech to the Legislative Council on 8 October, the Governor indicated that, in his view, there is room for change in the Legislative Council while retaining the essential
character.
/(343. Ting