OO HONG KONG (DESKBY 230100Z)
GRS 291
SECRET
DESKBY 230100Z
SECRET
HICK 341|1
COM
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. $1 2 4 OCT 1980
INDEX
No
Pr
128
110
мя
48929
NESTRY Action Taken
1
See (216
209)
FM FCO 2215452 OCT 80
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 941 OF 22 OCTOBER
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
YOUR TELNO 1173 TO HONG KONG AID:
IMMIGRATION
1. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THESE PAPERS. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE EARLY
SIGHT OF PRESS RELEASE SO THAT WE CAN PREPARE OUR OWN DEFENSIVE
PRESS BRIEF.
2. WE SUGGEST THAT REFERENCE IN THE PRESS RELEASE TO
'CONSULTATION' WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND THE PROVINCIAL
AUTHORITIES OF GUANGDONG BE AVOIDED SINCE IT COULD BE
MISCONSTRUED.
3. WE WOULD PREFER: 'THE GOVERNMENT HAS THEREFORE BEEN COMPELLED
AFTER CONSULTATIONAWITH THE UK GOVERNMENT AND FULL DISCUSSION WITH
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND THE PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES OF
GUANGDONG'.
4. AGAIN TO AVOID MISUNDERSTANDING, YOU MAY ALSO WISH TO CON-
SIDER AMENDING ANSWER 2 ON PAGE 2 OF QUESTION AND ANSWER BRIEF
ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES:
'THE FOREIGN SECRETARY HAS APPROVED THE NEW POLICY WHICH
INVOLVES ONLY HONG KONG LEGISLATION. WE DO NOT KNOW WHETHER THE
SUBJECT WILL BE RAISED LATER IN PARLIAMENT.'
5. FOR OUR DEFENSIVE BRIEF WE PROPOSE TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
Q. WHAT ARE HMG'S VIEWS ON REPORTS THAT THE CHINESE ARE SHOOTING
TO KILL ON THEIR SIDE OF THE BORDER?
A. WE HAVE NO CONFIRMATION OF THESE REPORTS. REDUCTIONS IN
THE RATE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION CERTAINLY REQUIRE EFFECTIVE MEASURES
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER BUT WE WOULD OF COURSE VERY MUCH REGRET
ANY LOSS OF LIFE.
Q. HOW CAN HMG APPROVE THE REPATRIATION OF REFUGEES FROM A
TOTALITARIAM STATE?
A. THEY ARE NOT REFUGEES FLEEING FROM PERSECUTION.
1
/THEY ARE
SECRET
214