BACKGROUND
VISIT TO HONG KONG
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Purpose of Visit
1. Lord Carrington will be visiting Hong Kong to have discussions with the Governor and community leaders in Hong Kong and to see for himself what is being done to cope with illegal immigration from China and Vietnamese refugees and to see some of the major new development projects in the territory.
Illegal Immigration
2. Illegal immigration continues to be a worrying problem for Hong Kong. Last month an average of more than 400 illegal immigrants were repatriated to China each day. It is estimated that the same
number evaded detection and will now settle in Hong Kong. In the last 18 months, more than 140,000 illegal immigrants have settled in the territory, putting a serious strain on the already overstretched social services there. Lord Carrington will see the anti-illegal immigration measures taken by the security forces.
Vietnamese Refugees
3. There are still 38,000 Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong. More are arriving each week although not in the large numbers of last
summer.
Programme
He
4. On 27 September, Lord Carrington will have a meeting with senior officials and then be briefed on anti-illegal immigration work. will then fly by helicopter to the site in the New Territories of the new power station being built by the China Light and Power Company. After lunch, he will fly to the border where he will see members of the Police and Armed Services on anti-illegal immigration duties. After an aerial view of Tai Po and Shatin New Towns, he will visit a public housing estate in East Kowloon, returning to Government House on the Mass Transit Railway. He will have dinner that evening with the Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils. 28 September will be largely a day of rest,
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