GR 350
SECRET
FM F C 0 2712257 MAY 80
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 415 OF 27 MAY
AND TO PRIORITY PEKING
83A
88
SECRET
HICK 34111
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
2 8 MAY 1980
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY
YOUR LETTERS OF 30 APRIL AND 14 HANDEY MURRAYA ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
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£28.5 Aw 2915
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1. MINISTERS HAVE ENDORSED YOUR CONTIHEENGY PROPOSALS, SUBJECT TO EXAMINATION OF THE DRAFT LEGISLATION. THEY WISH ALSO TO BE CONSULTED ON THE TIMING OF IMPLEMENTATION. WE ASSUME THAT THE STEPS LISTED IN PARA 2 OF YOUR LETTER OF 30 APRIL WERE INTENDED SIMPLY AS AN ILLUS- TRATION OF THE QUICKEST POSSIBLE WAY IN WHICH THE MEASURES COULD BE PUT INTO EFFECT. FROM YOUR SECOND LETTER, IT APPEARS THAT YOU ENVIS- AGED HOLDING OFF AFTER THE FIRST STAGE, 1.E. AFTER EXCO HAS EXAMINED THE DRAFT LEGISLATION, UNTIL YOU FEEL IT NECESSARY TO RECOMMEND. GOING AHEAD.
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2. WE ATTACH IMPORTANCE TO SUCH A PAUSE BECAUSE WE THINK THERE SHOULD BE A FURTHER APPROACH TO THE CHINESE TO URGE MORE EFFECTIVE ACTION ON THEIR SIDE. WE RECOGNISE THAT THIS MIGHT NOT PRODUCE RESULTS BUT WE MUST UNDERLINE OUR SERIOUS VIEW OF THE CURRENT FIRGURE AND THE FACT THAT THERE HAS BEEN, IF ANYTHING, A DETERIORATION SINCE OUR LAST REPRESENTATIONS. IT WOULD ALSO LATER BE USEFUL TO BE ABLE TO COUNTER ANY CRITICISMS OF THE NEW MEASURES IN HONG KONG BY POINT- ING TO OUR PRESSURE ON THE CHINESE.
3. IT WOULD THEN BE NECESSARY TO ALLOW A PERIOD OF BETWEEN ONE AND TWO MONTHS TO SEE WHETHER THE APPROACH TO THE CHINESE HAD BORNE.... FRUIT, BEFORE A DECISION WAS TAKEN ON NEW MEASURES IN HONG KONG.
4. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS AND THOSE OF HMA PEKING INCLUDING YOUR IDEAS ON THE METHOD OF SUCH AN APPROACH. WE BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD NOW BE RIGHT FOR AN FCO MINISTER TO SUMMON THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR HERE, BUT PARALLEL ACTION COULD BE TAKEN IN PEKING AND HONG KONG.
5. THIS APPROACH WOULD BE SEPARATE FROM ANY SUBSEQUENT NOTIFICATION TO THE CHINESE OF THE PROPOSED NEW MEASURES IN HONG KONG, SUBJECT TO YOUR AND PEKING'S VIEWS, WE SUGGEST THAT THIS SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN HONG KONG AND PEKING ONCE IMPLEMENTATION HAS BEEN DECIDED, BUT BEFORE ANY PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT. WE ASSUME EXCO CONSIDERATIONS WILL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL.
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MR MURRAY
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