Mr Murray
PS/Aord Goronwy-Roberte
PS
1776
Robertad
.67
HKK 341/1:0
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- JUN 1978
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HONG KONG: MP's LETTER: MR ALFRED MORRIS MP
1.
Mr Morris MP (Labour/Co-operative
Wythenshawe) has written
to the Secretary of State enclosing a letter from two constituents who are critical of the Hong Kong Government's policy of repatriating illegal immigrants from China.
2.
Mr Morris's constituents, the Reverend and Mrs Grist, refer to an article in "Private Eye" of 26 May which, in turn, refers to an answer to a Parliamentary Question from Mr Robert Parry in which an incorrect figure of 11,719 persons repatriated since 1974 was given. The mistake lay in this Department and the figure should have read 4,792. Mr Luard has written to Mr Parry apologizing and giving the correct figure; Hansard will be corrected in due course.
3. The background to the repatriation policy is given in the attached brief prepared for the Secretary of State at the end of last week. The Reverend and Mrs Grist are incorrect in stating that those
repatriated have sought political asylum. There is no question of them being refugees in the normal sense of the word: in cases where there are strong humanitarian reasons illegal immigrants are
allowed to stay. Mr Morris's constituents are also incorrect in saying that we do not know what happens to those repatriated.
Information from would-be illegal immigrants making their second, or subsequent, attempt, as well as information from other sources,
shows that the Chinese authorities generally regard the offence as
a civil misdemeanour which does not merit harsh punishment.
4. I recommend that the Secretary of State should reply to
Mr Morris on the lines of the attached draft.
J
Levandu
14 June 1978
R JT McLaren
Hong Kong & General Dept