SCR 6/2091/55
Present:
CONFIDENTIAL
Record of meeting in the Political Adviser's Office
on 8 May, 1978
Si
Mr CIU Yi, Deputy Director, NCNA
Mr LJ Jo-ho, NCNA
Dr D C Wilson
НКК 341
341/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY MO. 51
17 MAY 1978
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
No
PA
REGISTRY
Action Taken
पह
Mr I C Orr
Legal Immigration from China
Dr Wilson said that the problem of population was familiar to anybody who lived in Hong Kong. It was a small place with a large number of people. On 19 April he had discussed informally with Mr LI Chu-sheng. the Director of the NCNA, the problem of the recent increase in the numbers of people coming from China. He had said then that he would need to discuss the problem more formally later. This was the reason for asking Mr Chu to call. From the discussions which had taken place in Peking and London in 1973 and later at Shum Chun in 1974, he believed that the Chinese side appreciated the difficulties caused by large numbers of people coming to Hong Kong. The numbers had gone down in 1975-76. But a new increase had started towards the end of 1977. He had spoken about this to Mr TAN Kan in January when he had mentioned that the average daily figure in December had been 97. Since then the average had gone up to 114 in March and to 149 in April. The average figure so far in May was 115. He gave Mr Chu a table showing the rise in numbers each month and comparing these with the figures in 1977. Generally about twice as many people were coming to Hong Kong this year as in the equivalent period last year. If the trend continued it would be the equivalent of over 54,000 people per year.
Mr Chu said that he was aware of Dr Wilson's conversation with Mr Li (who had been out of Hong Kong and who had only returned to his office a short time before he had left for this meeting). He understood the problem but was not familiar with the precise figures. He agreed that there was an effect on the lives of people in Hong Kong.
2.
3.
Dr Wilson said that in analysing. the figures
three categories emerged:
CONFIDENTIAL
/contd......