SECRET
IMMIGRATION.
13. DURING NOVEMBER, A TOTAL OF 9,946 CHINESE ENTERED HONG KONG
FROM CHINA LEGALLY (COMPARED WITH 8,485 IN OCTOBER AND 2,466 IN NOVEMBER 1977). THE DAILY AVERAGE FOR THE MONTH (EXCLUDING THOSE
WITH ONWARD VISAS) WAS 304, EIGHTEEN PERCENT ABOVE THE RECORD
LEVEL SET IN OCTOBER. IN NOVEMBER 2,263 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WERE
ARRESTED, FIFTY THREE PERCENT ABOVE THE RECORD LEVEL SET IN OCTOBER: THE FIGURE IN NOVEMBER 1977 WAS 118. THE NUMBER OF
ILLEGALS REPATRIATED IN NOVEMBER (2,019) WAS HIGHER THAN THE TOTAL REPATRIATION FIGURE FOR 1977 (1,779). AT PRESENT IT IS
LIKELY THAT THERE ARE ABOUT FOUR EVADERS FOR EVERY ILLEGAL
ARRESTED. THIS WOULD PUT THE PERMANENT ADDITION TO THE
POPULATION IN NOVEMBER THROUGH LEGAL AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
FROM CHINA AT ABOUT 17,000.
11. AT 2 DECEMBER 3,968 REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM WERE AWAITING RESETTLEMENT ELSEWHERE (EXCLUDING 242 TEMPORARILY TRANSFERRED
TO MACAU).
12. INCLUDED IN THE FIGURE OF 2,263 (PARA.10 ABOVE) ARE 277
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO ORIGINALLY WENT TO CHINA FROM VIETNAM (SOME ACROSS THE LAND BORDER) AND SUBSEQUENTLY REACHED HONG KONG BY BOAT. THEY ARE UNDER DETENTION PENDING THE OUTCOME OF REPRESENTATIONS MADE BY THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN PEKING TO HAVE THEM REPATRIATED TO CHINA.
FCO PLEASE PASS SAVING TO WELLINGTON
MACLEHOSE
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
FILE S
HK & GD (6)
FED
PUSD
OID
[PASSED TO CABINET OFFICE]
IPD
DEFENCE D
OPA OLA
MR MURRAY MR CORTAZZI
5
SECRET