CONFIDENTIAL
3. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HAVE GENERALLY NOT GIVEN FEAR OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF SINO-VIETNAMESE BORDER HOSTILITIES AS A REASON FOR ESCAPING, BUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR RUMOURS (OFTEN INACCURATE) OF TROOP MOVEMENTS HAVE APPARENTLY BEEN ONE INFLUENCE ON PEOPLE DECIDING TO MAKE AN ATTEMPT. THE ACTUAL NUMBERS (ARRESTS AND EVADERS) CROSSING INTO HONG KONG HAVE, HOWEVER, MOSTLY REFLECTED THE EFFICIENCY OF THE CHINESE IN CONTROLLING NEW DEPARTURE TRENDS. THE INCREASE OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS SEEMS TO HAVE RESULTED MAINLY FROM INCREASING USE OF SMALL BOATS FROM COUNTIES
TO THE EAST OF HONG KONG RATHER THAN FROM RE-DEPLOYMENTS OF TROOPS AWAY FROM THE LAND BORDER.
MACLENOSE
PILLS
IIK -GÐ
P&D
SCAD
UND
NAMD
NEWS D
Pojma RIDLEY
HQ COETMZ)
MR MURLAY
Copies TO :
Hong Kong GOVT office
LONDON
:
22
CONFIDENTIAL
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Page 75Page 76
GR 67
UMCLASSIFIED