G.F. 316
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SECRET 高度機密
Page No. 8 of 10 pages
IMMIGRATION
From China
27.
A total of 3808 legal immigrants arrived from China without onward travel documents, a daily average of 136. This compares with the daily average of 138 for
January. There is no obvious reason for these somewhat
lower figures, but it is probably that greater numbers will be allowed to leave later in the year so as to bring the daily average figure back to around 150.
28.
The level of illegal immigration fell, with a total of 408 arrested on first arrival in February, giving a daily
average of only 15. In January the total was 701 and the
daily average 23. The February figure was the lowest monthly
total since May 1978, just before the influx began. Moreover, included in the total of 408 were 118 persons who claimed to have crossed the border merely to shop. They were arrested' as they did not have the new passes issued to "tolerated border crossers by the Chinese authorities, following an
agreement with the Hong Kong Government. In addition to the 408 arrested on first arrival, 15 persons who had evaded, arrest were found or gave themselves up and were repatriated.
29.
?:
This decrease in illegal immigration was the more noteworthy for the fact that the Chinese New Year Holiday fell during February: traditionally would-be illegal immigrants
have tried to take advantage of a supposed relaxation in countermeasures by both sides. The low figures are indicative of the deterrence of the measures introduced by Hong Kong last October. Provided these can be effectively maintained, and are
known in the communes to be so maintained, the level of illegal immigration is likely to remain relatively low. There is however no room for complacency: there are disturbing signs that the forgery and counterfeiting of identity cards (which are a vital
element in the countermeasures) is on the increase.
/para 30.
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