CONFIDENTIAL
GRO 250
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 24190CZ APR 79
TO
JORITY F C O
TELEGRAY NUMBER 486 OF 24 APRIL
Нек
HKCK 341 |
ليلا
1979
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON:-
MY TELNO 350: IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA,
No
J26.4
69
1. YOU WILL HAVE SEEN FROM THE RECORDS OF MY CONVERSATIONS IN CHINA THAT I SPOKE ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF EXCESSIVE IMMIGRATION AT ALL LEVELS, THE RESPONSE WAS SYMPATHETIC AND THE CHINESE, NOTABLY DENG XIAOPING HIMSLEF, RECOGNISED THAT THE MEASURES THEY HAD TAKEN SO FAR HAD NOT BEEN SUFFICIENT AND SAID THAT MORE
WOULD BE DONE.
2. WHILE IN CHINA, AND SINCE MY RETURN BOTH PUBLICLY AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON 6 APRIL AND PRIVATELY TO THE NONA, I HAVE SAID THAT THE BEST WAY FORWARD WOULD BE A MEETING OF OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS HOW TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF THOSE WHO CLAIM TO BE VISITING AND NEVER. RETURN. I HAVE STRESSED THAT THE EARLIER
SUCH A MEETING IS HELD THE BETTER.
3. THE NCNA HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THEY SEE MERIT IN A MEETING,
-
THEY HAVE SAID THAT THEY HAVE FORWARDED THEIR OWN PROPOSALS ON THE PROBLEM TO PEKING. ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE NOT DIVULGED THE DETAIL IT IS CLEAR THAT THESE INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GREATER CENTRALISATION OF AUTHORITY TO ISSUE EXIT PERMITS, THEY HAVE SAID THAT THEY HOPE TO GET A REPLY BY THE END OF THIS MONTH
OR EARLY NEXT.
4. I AM SURE THAT WE MUST DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE CHINESE IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. WHILE THERE IS A PROSPECT OF
EARLY DIRECT DISCUSSIONS. WE ARE NOT THEREFORE TAKING ANY FURTHER ACTION ON THE THREAT TO IMPOSE UNILATERAL RESTRICTIONS. WE MUST HOWEVER KEEP IT IN RESERVE IN CASE EITHER THE TALKS DO NO MATERIALISE SOON OR PROVE INEFFECTIVE.
MACLEHOSE FILES
HKJGD (6)
D
EAD
FED
PS
[SENT ALSO BY BAG TO PEKING]
LORD GORONVY
ROBERTS
SIR A DUFF
.
SIR A PARSUNG
MR CORTAZZI
MRMURRAY
COPIES TV
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE 6 GRAFTON ST
CONFDENTIAL