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However, the numbers being repatriated have in the last 2 months
risen sharply:
5,868 (daily average 196) in April and 8,163 (263)
in May, giving a total so far this year of more than 27,000. If this
upward trend did not continue for the rest of the year but held
steady at around 8,000, Hong Kong would have to absorb more than
80,000 illegals in 1980. This total, added to 54,000 legals (at an
annual daily average of 150), would give Hong Kong an intake for
1980 of about 135,000.
4.
Hong Kong took more than 200,000 immigrants from China last
year, resulting in a population increase of 6.2% against a projected
increase of just over 1.2%. Last year's increase put considerable
strain on Hong Kong's resources.
A new
5. HMG and the Hong Kong Government have done, and are doing,
what they can to stop illegal immigration from China at considerable
cost to both. The garrison has been reinforced with an additional
battalion as well as additional naval craft and helicopters.
illuminated primary border fence is being constructed. At the same
time, much tougher prison sentences are being imposed on organisers
of illegal immigration in Hong Kong and in one case an illegal
immigrant who had reached base in Hong Kong was returned to China
at the request of the Chinese.
6.
What is particularly worrying is that, unless the Chinese
take determined action as they did last summer when the total dropped
from 12,292 in June to 658 in July, the upward trend is likely to
follow past patterns and continue. If this happens, and at a time
when arrivals of refugees from Vietnam are also showing a sharp
increase, the situation will be very serious indeed.
CONFIDENTIAL
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