BY BAG
CONFIDENTIAL
帘政
下亞華道
GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT
LOWER ALBERT ROAD
HONG KONG
ARM OUR REF.:
SCR 3/2091/55
AKK 3411.
ZORAK YOUR REF.:
AS LIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 18 FEB 1980
(
ли
K Sullivar. Esq
PEKING
DESK OFFICER INDEX
PA
REGISTRY
Action Taken
|AW1812
5 February 1980
2. My a
3. of PA
WQ13/2
13.2.
Dear Kim,
IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA
39
Please refer to paragraph 2 of our telno 197 of 4 February to FCO. The results of the sample survey of travel permits was revealing. I enclose the detailed table prepared by Immigration Department together with a brief analysis which I have given to the NCNA, We hope that these very detailed returns will help to drive home to the Chinese the point that in practice their policy of issuing travel documents valid for very long periods makes nonsense of the claim that these are being issued in order to permit 'visits' to Hong Kong. We should be grateful if you would use these deteils in whatever way you think best calculated to get the message home to the MFA.
In providing this detailed breakdown (which takes considerable work to prepare) we are in effect monitoring Chinese policy on issuing exit permits, probably in a way which is not done anywhere in China. We plen to continue to collect these details, though there will be a two week gap over the Spring Festival because of pressure of work. In future returns, we are planning to include full details of places of issue in Fujian province. We shall also prepare detailed returns for travellers returning to China via Lowu within the period of validity of travel documents issued in China, This should help us to monitor more closely any new patterns which emerge of particular areas in China proving more effective in persuading people only to use their permits for visits. There is as yet no significant increase in the number of people returning. The enclosed detailed table of arrivals and departures for January shows that only 197 returned - 4.2% of the total number arriving that month without onward visas.
cc P J Williamson Esq HK&GD FCO
RC Fursland Esq FED FCO Commissioner HK Government Office Research Dept FE Section FCO
Yours wer
(I C Orr)
I am
CONFIDENTIAL
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