A
CYPHER CATA
P 051545Z APR
FM MODUK NAVY
TO RBMVNC/CAPIC HONG KONG
INFO RBDIDC/CINCFLEET REMVAD/CBF HONG KONG
RBDWDFA/FCO LONDON
BT
CONFIDENTIAL
DIG RTT
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK.3414
APR 1078
INDEX
No
FCO FOR HONG KONG AND GENERAL DEPT FROM DS5.
1. MR JOHN MOORE MP HAS TODAY ASKED TWO PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS FOR ANSWER 6 APRIL ON INVOLVEMENT OF RN PATROL CRAFT IN PREVENTION OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION TO HONG KONG.
2. PQ 1. TO ASK THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY IF IT IS THE POLICY OF HMG TO US RN PATROL CRAFT TO FORCIBLY REPATRIATE TO COMMUNIST CHINA REFUGEES ESCAPING TO HONG KONG.
PQ 2. TO ASK THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE HOW MANY NAVAL VESSELS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED DURING 1977 IN HONG KONG WATERS IN PATROLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REPATRIATION OF REFUGEES TO COMMUNIST CHINA AND HOW MANY SUCH REFUGEES HAVE BEEN HANDLED BY THE RN. 3. DRAFT ANSWER TO FIRST QUESTION IS AS FOLLOWS:
QUOTE THE HONG KONG MARINE POLICE ARE SUPPORTED INA NUMBER OF WAYS BY THE RN INCLUDING THE PREVENTION OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.
THE DECISION ON WHETHER TO REPATRIATE IS TAKEN BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT UNQUOTE.
4. DRAFT ANSWER TO SECOND QUESTION IS AS FOLLOWS:
QUOTE THERE ARE FIVE RN PATROL CRAFT IN HONG KONG WHICH SUPPORT THE HONG KONG MARINE POLICE IN A NUMBER OF WAYS INCLUDING INTERCEPTION OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. THE RN IS NOT INVOLVED IN THE REPATRIATION OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. THIS IS A MATTER FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT UNQUOTE.
5. GRATEFUL FOR COMMENTS ON SECOND DRAFT ANSWER BY 0607002 APR. AND IF POSSIBLE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS PICKED UP BY RN IN 1977
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DEF.D.
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