HKK026/17
15
SECRET
مدد
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! $17.9.
MG
42950 1
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00 HONG KONG
GRS 1249
SECRET
FM FCO 111430Z SEP 80
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 763 OF 11 SEPTEMBER
INFO SAVING PEKING
MIPT: SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG: BRIEFING
FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF DRAFT STEERING BRIEF:
OBJECTIVES
1. (A) TO REASSURE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY THAT HMG ARE FULLY AWARE OF
THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARDS THE TERRITORY AND INTEND TO
FULFIL THEM.
(B) TO GET A FIRST-HAND IMPRESSION OF THE PROBLEM OF IMMI –
GRATION FROM CHINA AND THE MEASURES BEING TAKEN TO CONTROL
IT AS WELL AS THE CONTINUING PROBLEM OF REFUGEES FROM
VIETNAM.
(C) TO RECEIVE ON-THE-SPOT BRIEFING ON THE HONG KONG ANGLE TO
SUBJECTS TO BE RAISED DURING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT
TO CHINA.
BACKGROUND TO THE VISIT
2. THE SECRETARY OF STATE LAST VISITED HONG KONG IN JUNE 1979 TO
SEE FOR HIMSELF THE PROBLEMS CREATED BY THE COMBINED IMPACT OF THE
INFLUX FROM CHINA AND THE ALARMING NUMBER OF REFUGEES FROM
VIETNAM. THAT VISIT, FOLLOWED BY THE PRIME MINISTER'S AGREEMENT
TO ACCEPT 10,000 REFUGEES FOR RESETTLEMENT IN THE UK AND THE SWIFT
REINFORCEMENT OF THE HONG KONG GARRISON TO COMBAT ILLEGAL IMMI-
GRATION, PROVIDED CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT
TO HONG KONG. NEVERTHELESS, A NUMBER OF OTHER DEVELOPMENTS OVER
THE LAST 15 MONTHS (SEE PARAGRAPH 4 BELOW) HAVE GIVEN RISE TO
FEARS THAT LOCAL INTERESTS ARE BEING OVERLOOKED. THE VISIT WILL
COME AS A TIMELY REASSURANCE OF HMG'S CONTINUING COMMITMENT TO
HONG KONG.
PROGRAMME
1
SECRET
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