138
HKK
K 341|1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 2 4 JUL 1980
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DISCUSSION BETWEEN MRBAKER AND THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG :
14 JULY 1980
Present:
Mr P Blaker MP
Sir E Youde
Mr Clift
Mr Munro
Sir Murray MacLehose
see (165
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA TO HONG KONG
132
1. The discussion focussed on the Governor's_telegram No 868 which put the case for early implementation of measures to return to China illegal immigrants who had 'got to base'. The Governor stressed that the figures had neither declined dramatically nor reached the level of last year. The problem lay in the cumulative increase and in the prospect of an addition of 8,000 per month to the population. Although there would be penalties in introducing the measures he judged that the risks of not doing so would be greater. It was necessary, in order to get more effect on the Chinese side, for it to be clearly apparent to intending illegals that there was no longer a safe haven in Hong Kong.
2. Mr Blaker asked about the prospects of recession and the effect on the labour market. The Governor said that although these were not apparent yet there was no question that a recession was coming which would affect employment prospects.
3. Mr Blaker pointed out that the Governor's proposals(? in April 1980) of an 'ideal scenario' for implementation of the measures had pointed rather to a winter timing. The Governor said that his views had changed somewhat. So far as the Chinese effort was concerned, they were already intercepting a very high proportion of attempters. He now thought that the weather was less of a factor in the varying rate of immigration last December's figures had been particularly high. On the size of the British garrison, the advice of the new CBF was that this was no longer such an important factor since the troops were now better trained to do the work.
4. Sir E Youde asked whether implementation might be better timed before or after the visit of the Secretary of State to Hong Kong and China. Mr Blaker said that there might be arguments for taking action during the parliamentary recess but on the other hand it could be argued that the Secretary of State should be given the opportunity to raise the matter with the Chinese before a final decision was taken. Although initial parliamentary interest in the subject would probably not be very great, it was important to get the timing right and to ensure that the measures were going to be effective in themselves.
CONFIDENTIAL
/5.