GR 515
CONFIDEN MAL
اهده
Original at: Mek oy@l
This Capy for:
Information only / Action on Pera(s)
203
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 180548Z OCT 79
HKK 341l
TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFF CRECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
TELNO.1451 OF 18 OCTOBER, INFO IMMEDIATE: PEKING,
1 9 OCT 1979
DESK OFFICER INDEX
ROUTINE • HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON.
DONN
MY TELNO.1403: IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA.
198
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
1. WE HAVE CONSIDERED FURTHER METHODS AND CONSEQUENCES OF
IMPOSING UNILATERAL CONTROLS ON LEGAL IMMIGRATION. ALTHOUGH
SUCH A STEP MAY TURN OUT TO BE OUR ONLY OPTION, I DO NOT THINK
THAT WE SHOULD TAKE ANY DECISION ON SUCH A SERIOUS MOVE UNTIL
AFTER WE HAVE SEEN WHAT HUA AND HIS PARTY SAY IN LONDON. 1
WILL NOT THEREFORE GO INTO FURTHER DETAIL AT THIS STAGE.
2.
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(204)
205
MEANWHILE, WE HAVE ALSO CONSIDERED WHAT MORE COULD BE DONE, SHORT OF THREATENING CONTROLS, TO BRING HOME TO THE CHINESE THAT THE PROBLEM IS SERIOUS AND IMPLY TO THEM THAT WE ARE CONTEMPLATING
SOMETHING MORE DRASTIC.
3. ONE RELATIVELY SIMPLE MEASURE IS TO SEPARATE AT THE BORDER
BRIDGE NEW ARRIVALS FROM CHINA WITHOUT ONWARD DOCUMENTATION (THE PROBLEM CATEGORY) FROM OTHER TRAVELLERS. THIS COULD BE
DONE BY POSTING IMMIGRATION OFFICERS CLOSE TO THE BORDER LINE,
CHECKING DOCUMENTATION THERE AND DIVIDING PASSENGERS INTO TWO
STREAMS SEMI-COLON ADDITIONAL POLICE WOULD ALSO BE DEPLOYED
ON THE BRIDGE TO HELP WITH CORRALING. TAKING SUCH ACTION WOULD
EMPHASISE OUR INTEREST IN ONE PARTICULAR GROUP OF PASSENGERS AND
PROVIDE SOME, ALBEIT LIMITED, SCOPE FOR ESCALATED MEASURES AGAINST THAT GROUP, E.G BY DELAYING PROCESSING UNTIL OTHER PASSENGERS
ARE DEALT WITH OR ATTEMPTING TO REJECT SOME CONN THE GROUNDS
OF INSUFFICIENT DOCUMENTATION. SUCH A SEPARATION OF SHEEP AND GOATS WOULD ALSO, INCIDENTALLY, BE AN ESSENTIAL FIRST STEP TO UNILATERAL CONTROLS IF IT HAS TO COME TO THAT.
@ONFIDENTAL
14. WE CAN