GPS 500
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 1189002 NOV 80
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
Акк
34511
14 NOV 1980
CONFIDENTIAL DESK OFFICER
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1489 OF 11 NOVEMBER
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
INDEX
MD
PA
877.11
* A SIS RY
crion Taken
TOP CORY
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON
88
تبعه
PEKING TEL NO 667 TO YOU: PRC PASSPORT HOLDERS IN TRANSIT. DURING THE PAST TWO WEEKS THERE HAS BEEN SOME IMPROVEMENT IN THAT
CHINESE IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS AT THE BORDER ARE AGAIN SHOWING
GREATER READINESS TO ACCEPT BACK PASSPORT HOLDERS WHO CLEARLY HAVE
NO INTENTION OF PROCEEDING TO THEIR ONWARD DESTINATION. AS IT HAPPE
AT PRESENT NO TRAVELLERS ARE BEING HELD IN DETENTION IN POLICE CELLS
2. NOW THAT PASSPORT HOLDERS INTENDING TO STAY IN HONG KONG COULD NOTDO SO BY PRETENDING TO BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, WE HAVE BEEN
CONSIDERING ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF TACKLING THIS PROBLEM. THE BEST WOULD BE FOR TRAVELLERS TO BE LANDED IN TRANSIT AND TO BE GIVEN A LIMITED NUMBER OF SHORT EXTENSIONS OF STAY TO ENABLE THEM TO COMPLETE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THEIR ONWARD TRAVEL. TO DO THIS, HOWEVER,
WE WOULD NEED AN ASSURANCE FROM THE CHINESE THAT THOSE WHO HAD MADE NO ONWARD ARRANGEMENTS AFTER BEING GIVEN, SAY, UP TO ONE MONTH
IN WHICH TO DO SO, SHOULD BE ACCEPTED BACK. IF YOU AGREE, WE SUGGEST PEKING SHOULD ASK FOR SUCH AN ASSURANCE.
3. IN DOING SO, PEKING SHOULD EXPLAIN THAT WE WOULD EXPECT PARTICULARLY BLATANT CASES TO BE RECEIVED BACK IMMEDIATELY AS WAS THE CASE BEFORE 22 MARCH AND AS IT GENERALLY THE CASE AT PRESENT).
THESE INCLUDE E G
(A) TRAVELLERS WHO ADMIT ON ARRIVAL THAT THEY DO NOT INTEND TO
COMPLETE THEIR JOURNEY:
(B) TRAVELLERS WHO CLAIM THEIR ONWARD TRAVEL WILL BE PAID FOR BY RELATIVES WHO, WHEN QUESTIONED, SAY THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF HELPING
AND
(C) ALL TRAVELLERS WITH INADEQUATE ONWARD DOCUMENTATION. PEKING COULD ADD THAT NO TRAVELLERS ARE A T PRESENT IN POLICE
DETENTION BUT SHOULD NOT GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT WE CAN UNDERTAKE THAT NO TRAVELLERS WILL BE DETAINED. HOWEVER, IF THE CHINESE CAN AGREE TO RECEIVE PEOPLE BACK WHO HAVE NOT LEFT AFTER SEVERAL
EXTENSIONS OF STAY, WE BELIEVE TEMPORARY DETENTION WILL ONLY BE NECESSARY IN A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF CASES.
CONFIDENTIAL
/4. PEKING
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