GR 220
SECRET
TC
нек зал
34
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
03 JUN 1980.
DESK OFFICER INDEX
REGISTRY Action Te
PA
وهر
no J3.c
Aw 516
SECRET
FM PEKING 300652Z MAY 80
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 372 OF 30 MAY 1980
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
93
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
YOUR TELNO 415 TO HONG KONG:
1. WE WOULD NEED TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS TO THE CHINESE AT TWO STAGES:
A. TO PERSUADE THEM TO TAKE MEASURES THAT WOULD PRE-EMPT THE NEED FOR FRESH LEGISLATIVE ACTION ON HONG KONG'S PART,
B. WHEN A. (AS WE EXPECT) FAILS, WE WOULD NEED TO INFORM THEM OF OUR PROPOSED ACTION AND SEEK THEIR AGREEMENT TO ACCEPT BACK A MUCH LARGER NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS THAN IS AT PRESENT THE CASE. WE THINK THAT THE NEW MEASURES WILL PROBABLY BE WELCOME TO THEM. (SEE FOR EXAMPLE PARAGRAPH 7 OF SULLIVAN'S MINUTE OF 22 APRIL, COPIED TO PA, FED AND HKGD).
See
2. IT FOLLOWS FROM THE ABOVE THAT THE EARLIER THE FIRST SET OF REPRESENTATIONS ARE MADE THE BETTER, PREFERABLY BEFORE EXCO HAVE TAKEN DECISIONS. IF THE CHINESE GET A HINT OF WHAT IS AFOOT (AND DELAY INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF THEIR DOING SO), THE REPRESENTATIONS ARE LIKELY TO BE INEFFECTIVE. I AGREE ABOUT THE WAY THE REPRESENTATIONS SHOULD BE MADE.
3. ANY PUBLICITY BETWEEN THE TIME EXCO TAKES DECISIONS
AND THE ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION OF MEASURES IS LIKELY TO CAUSE A FLOOD OF DEAD-LINE BEATERS. THIS ARGUES FOR AS SHORT A GAP AS POSSIBLE.
4.
WE CAN CONSIDER THE TIMING OF OUR SECOND APPROACH TO THE CHINESE, ON IMPLEMENTATION, LATER. BUT MY INITIAL VIEW IS THAT WE SHOULD LEAVE IT AS LATE AS POSSIBLE, TO PREVENT LEAKS.
CRADOCK
FILES
HK & GD
FED
PUSD
OID
NEWS D
PS/MR BLAKER PS/PUS
MR DONALD
SECRET
03
1108
95