HKK
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(25A)
CONFIDENTIAL
FM F C O 161823Z FEB 79
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
CONFIDENTAL
TELEGRAM NUMBER 166 OF 16 FEBRUARY
AND TO HONG KONG.
FROM MURRAY.
See (53
24
No
ik
HONG KONG TELNO 279: IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA.
1. WE ACCEPT THAT OUR FIRST CONSIDERATION MUST BE TO HELP THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WITH A SERIOUS PROBLEM ON WHICH THE SECRETARY OF STATE SPOKE TO HUANG HUA LAST YEAR. WE ARE WEIGHING THE PROS AND CONS OF THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN BUT IN ANY CASE THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OWN VISIT TO PEKING RAISES AN AWKWARD PROBLEM OF TIMING ON WHICH WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ADVICE.
2. THE GOVERNOR ENVISAGES A TWO STAGE PROCESS, WITH A FIRM WARNING IN THE NEAR FUTURE THAT ACTION WILL (REPEAT WILL) BE TAKEN FOLLOWED BY A DECISION ON A DATE FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF RESTRICTIONS AND PRESUMABLY THE NOTIFICATION OF THAT DATE TO THE CHINESE IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH. THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT (AND THAT OF THE GOVERNOR) WOULD THUS TAKE PLACE IN THE SHADOW OF A FINAL DECISION ALREADY TAKEN. DO YOU THINK THAT THIS WOULD SOUR THE ATMOSPHERE FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT? WE ARE INCLINED TO THINK THAT ANY EFFECT COULD BE MITIGATED IF YOU WERE TO EXPLAIN BEFOREHAND THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN SUCH A STEP IN ADVANCE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT UNLESS IT HAD BEEN ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. A POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE TO USE THE VISIT TO BRING THE MAXIMUM PRESSURE TO BEAR ON THE CHINESE AND DEFER THE FINAL WARNING UNTIL, SAY, EARLY MAY. BUT WE REALISE THAT THIS DELAY MIGHT BE UNACCEPTABLE IN HONG KONG.
3. IF WE ARE TO RECOMMEND TO MINISTERS THAT A NEW STAGED APPROACH MUST BE MADE, WE AGREE GENERALLY THAT IT SHOULD BE ON THE LINES SET OUT IN PARAGRAPH 7 IN HONG KONG TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE. WE ALSO AGREE THAT IT SHOULD BE MADE INITIALLY, BY THE POLITICAL ADVISER IN HONG KONG, THOUGH FOR THE REASON GIVEN IN PARAGRAPH 2 ABOVE WE THINK THE FINAL WARNING (1.E. THE NOTICE DESCRIBED IN PARA 7(IV) OF TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE) WOULD HAVE TO BE DELIVERED BY YOU AT A HIGH LEVEL. BUT AGAIN, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR
VIEWS.
CONFIDENTIAL
/4 (FOR HONG KONG)