}
GPS 400
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 341|1i
RECEIVED IN-REGISTRY NO. 51
CONF11B1980
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY
Action Taken
FM HONG KONG 151045Z FEB 80
TO PRIORITY FCO
INDEX
Ли
TELEGRAM NUMBER 255 OF 15 FEBRUARY
PA
J26.2
AW 1812
INFO PRIORITYPEKING HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON
MYTELN 197: IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA.
THE 24 HOUR ARREST FIGURE FOR ILLEGALS FOR THE 14 DAYS UP TO 0600
LOCAL ON 15 FEBRUARY WAS 2,110, OF WHICH 1,383 CAME BY LAND OR ACROSS THE BAYS AND 727 BY SEA. THE DAILY AVERAGE WAS 151. THIS IS ABOUT THE SAME AS THE LAST 14 DAYS OF JANUARY (TOTAL ARRESTS 2,090). HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERABLE CHANGES IN THE PATTERN. SO FAR IN FEBRUARY, ARRESTS ON THE LAND BORDER HAVE BEEN ABOUT 50 PER CENT LOWER THAN IN JANUARY. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN FEWER BOATS FROM COUNTIES TO THE EAST OF HONG KONG. HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN ILLEGALS ORIGINATING FROM DONGGUAN COUNTY (BETWEEN THE EAST RIVER AND THE NEW SHENZHEN MUNICIPALITY ): 52 PER CENT OF ARRESTS IN THE FIRST 14 DAY S
OF FEBRUARY COMPARED WITH 18 PER CENT IN THE LAST 14 DAYS OF JANUARY
MUCH OF THIS HAS BEEN THE RESULT OF ORGANISED MOTORISED JUNKS CARRYING LARGER NUMBERS. MAKESHIFT TICKETS HAVE EVEN BEEN FOUND ON SOME ILLEGALS. WE HAVE PASSED EXAMPL TO THE NCNA. SO FAR THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT ANY SYNDICATES IN HONG KONG HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE ORGANISATION OF THESE MOTORISED JUNKS. THE NCNA HAVE SHOWN CONCERN AT THE LARGE NUMBERS COMING FROM DONGGUAN. IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IF PEKING COULD ALSO MENTION THIS PROBLEM IF A SUITABLE OPPORTUNITY OCCURS.
2. THE DAILY AVERAGE OF LEGAL ARRIVALS WITHOUT ONWARD VISAS FROM 1 TO 14 FEBRUARY WAS 166, A DISAPPOINTING INCREASE FROM THE JANUARY DAILY AVERAGE OF 148. HOWEVER, THE FIGURES MAY BE DISTORTED BY HIGHER NUMBERS OVER THE PAST TWO DAYS (231 AND 211 RESPECTIVELY. THIS COULD BE AN EFFECT OF THE SPRING FESTIVAL RATHER THAN EVIDENCE OF AN DISTINCT UPWARD TREND.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HK & GD
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVT.OFFICE
FED
SEAD
UND
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
CONFIDENTIAL
46)