CONFIDENTIAL
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tensified (See Brief No 5).
6. The Chinese authorities have suggested that the Hong Kong
Government ought to repatriate illegals who evade capture and
surface later.
7.
This would be undesirable because it would
drive illegals underground and create enormous problems of
corruption, exploitation etc.
Consideration has been given to the possibility of imposing
controls on legal immigrants. This would be very unwelcome to
the Chinese Government, who consider that their nationals have.
a traditional right of free movement to Hong Kong (which they
regard as Chinese territory). The idea has not been pursued
while the figures appear to be moving in the right direction.
Hong Kong and General Department
21st June 1979
CONFIDENTIAL