THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN CLOSED UNTIL
UNDER FOI
EXEMPTION No .40.
CONFIDENTIAL
GR 1350
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 300935Z SEP
TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE KKC Busli TELEGRAM NUMBER 1278 OF 30 SEPTEMBER, 198ØCEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING.
(76)
0 3 OCT 1980
DESK OFICER
REGISTRY
PEKING TELNO 626 TO YOU: TRANSIT OF HONG KONG BY PRO PASSPORT: Taken
HOLDERS.
Лю
$10.0
AW /
78
1. THE PROBLEM OF PRIVATE CHINESE PASSPORT HOLDERS ATTEMPTING
TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG HAS BEEN CAUSING US INCREASING CONCERN THE POINTS RAISED BY THE MFA IN REFTEL PROVIDE A USEFUL OPPORTUNITY
TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM TO THE CHINESE.
2. ESSENTIALLY, THE PROBLEM ARISES FROM PEOPLE UNABLE TO OBTAIN EXIT PERMITS TO COME TO HONG KONG ATTEMPTING TO EXPLOIT LOOP- HOLES IN THE SYSTEM FOR ISSUING PASSPORTS. THERE HAVE BEEN TWO MAIN TYPES OF ABUSE:
(A) THE USE OF FORGED OR OTHERWISE INADEQUATE TRAVEL DOCUMENTS, AND (B) OBTAINING VALID VISAS FOR THIRD COUNTRIES WITHOUT THE INTENTION OF COMPLETING THE JOURNEY AFTER ARRIVAL IN HONG KONG. (IN SOME CASES PEOPLE MAKE A VISIT OVERSEAS BUT ATTEMPT TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG ON THEIR WAY BACK TO CHINA).
3. SINCE NOVEMBER 1979, CHINA HAS BEEN WILLING TO RECEIVE BACK TRAVELLERS WHO ARRIVE IN HONG KONG WITH INADEQUATE ONWARD TRAVEL DOCUMENTS. AS A RESULT THIS ABUSE HAS BEEN LARGELY BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL. ORIGINALLY, CHINA WAS ALSO WILLING TO RECEIVE BACK THOSE WHO HAD VALID TRAVEL DOCUMENTS BUT WHO WERE UNWILLING TO PROCEED TO THEIR ONWARD DESTINATION. HOWEVER, SINCE 22 MARCH THIS YEAR CHINESE IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS AT THE BORDER HAVE ONLY BEEN PREPARED TO RECEIVE BACK SUCH PEOPLE IF THEY RETURN VOLUNTARILY. AS THIS CHANGE HAS BECOME MORE WIDELY KNOWN IN CHINA THERE HAVE IT BEEN GROWING ATTEMPTS TO EXPLOIT THIS LOOPHOLE. AS A RESULT, HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY NECESSARY TO ESCORT SUCH PEOPLE TO THE AIRPORT (OR TO THE BORDER IF THEY EVENTUALLY DECIDE TO RETURN TO CHINA).
4. A PERIOD OF DETENTION IN POLICE CUSTODY IS GENERALLY ESSENTIAL WHILE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ONWARD TRAVEL ARE COMPLETED. OTHERWISE, SUCH PEOPLE WOULD ATTEMPT TO BE LANDED AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO HAD 'REACHED BASE''. BETWEEN JANUARY AND AUGUST 1,208 PRIVATE CPG PASSPORT HOLDERS ARRIVING AT THE BORDER FROM CHINA HAD TO BE DETAINED (MOST SINCE MARCH 22), 11 PER CENT OF TOTAL SUCH ARRIVALS IN THE PERIOD. EACH REFUSAL OF LANDING IS APPROVED BY THE SENIOR IMMIGRATION OFFICER ON DUTY AND ONLY IF HE IS FULLY CONVINCED THAT THE PERSON IN QUESTION IS LIKELY TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG RATHER THAN CONTINUE TO HIS STATED DESTINATION.
CONFIDENTIAL
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THE MAJOR
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