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a prospect of this movement of population being halted. After the very positive response of the leaders in Guangdong on this too
I am alse now satisfied.
Finally, that the people of Hong Kong were so alive
to the danger that traditional hospitality was creating,
that they had come to accept that it must be abandoned
despite the personal problems and inconvenience entailed.
Of all the conditions this is particularly important.
Advice is unanimous that this condition is now met.
Lord Carrington's talks with Vice Premier Huang
Hua in London, my talks in Guangzhou, and the subsequent
advice yesterday of the Executive Council, were the
last links in this long chain of evaluation and consultat ion
which has led to the legislation now before you.
The "reached base" policy has become a tragic charade
in which the illegal immigrant has little to lose and
everything to gain by attempting to run the guantlet of
Chinese and Hong Kong forces, and even if caught has every
incentive to try again. The Chinese accuse us, with some
justification, of applying a policy which positively welcomes
illegal immigrants. If this movement is to stop the potential
illegal emigrant in the commune must be made to realise that
even if he gets through the security cordons, he will not
have reached base and safety, but like an illegal immigrant
anywhere in the world, will be constantly liable to arrest
and return. We propose that this should be the case for
anyone who arrives as from tonight.
But this is not enough. The incentive to beat the