CONFIDENTIAL
PP HONG KONG
GRS 253
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 301200Z NOVEMBER 81
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 905 OF 30 NOVEMBER
38950
1
Hier 341|1
- 2 DFC101
INFO PRIORITY PEKING.
110
No
૧૯
23/12
YOUR TELNO 1055: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION BY CHILDREN FROM CHINA
AF23/12
113
1.
WE HAVE SUBMITTED TO LPS WHO AGREES WITH THESE PROPOSALS.
WE KNOW YOU WILL HAVE IN MIND THE RISK THAT THE CHARGE OF
PRACTICE MAY ATTRACT SOME CRITICISM HERE AND THAT INDIVIDUAL
CASES MAY BE TAKEN UP BY THE PRESS, IN PARLIAMENT OR WITH
MINISTERS. WE BELIEVE THAT YOUR PROPOSALS ARE GENERALLY
DEFENSIBLE, MAINLY ON GROUNDS OF SOCIAL AND OTHER PRESSURES
ON HONG KONG AND OF THE IMPORTANCE OF DETERRING THE TRAFFIC IN
CHILDREN. HOWEVER GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD GIVE ADVANCE WARNING
OF ANY CASES WHICH ARE LIKELY TO BE CONTROVERSIAL AND TO
ATTRACT PUBLICITY.
2. THERE MAY BE SOME ATTEMPT TO MAKE COMPARISONS WITH UK
PRACTICE OF REUNION OF CHILDREN WITH PARENTS. IN FACT THERE
ARE POWERS TO REPATRIATE CHILDREN WHO ENTER THE UK ILLEGALLY
BUT THIS HAPPENS RARELY EXCEPT FROM THE SUB-CONTINENT. EVEN
THOUGH SUCH CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS HOLD BRITISH PASSPORTS,
THEY ARE REPATRIATED IF THEY ARE JUMPING THE QUEUE. ON THE
OTHER HAND, CHILDREN ARE ALLOWED TO APPLY FOR LEGAL IMMIGRATION
TO JOIN THEIR PARENTS. WE DO NOT WISH TO ENCOUROGE DIRECT
COMPARISON. HONG KONG'S POSITION IS OBVIOUSLY VERY DIFFERENT.
HOWEVER, GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS ON THE PRACTICALITY OF CHILDREN
JOINING THEIR PARENTS IN HONG KONG AS LEGAL (ONE-WAY) IMMIGRANTS,
WITHOUT SOME CONTROLLED ARRANGEMENT OF THIS SORT IT MIGHT BE
DIFFICULT TO REBUT ACCUSATIONS THAT WE WERE KEEPING FAMILIES
APART.
Sec114
124
CARRINGTON
LIMITED
HKGD
FED
MVD
NEWS DEPT.
UND
PS
PS/LPS
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
MR DONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
ви
weeks
2/12
noted 150 2/12