2.
Secretary
for Security
Sir, the reference to 'legals' intrcduces a somewhat new feature into
In response to representations made in Peking, London
the questions
and Hong Kong there are indications that the Chinese authorities have
adopted some measures which have had the effect of lowering the level of legal
immigration, Figures for legal immigrants, sking persons who remain here,
are showing a welcome reduction from about 9700 in December to about 5,600
in ay and we hope that that reduction will continue.
From figures, however,
of those persons, who are now being apprehended, in Hong Kong illegally
2:1
which
were over 14,000 last month it is manifest that far greater effort will be
required on the Chinese side of the border to prevent the large numbers of
persons leaving China.