112
A
A
110
110
Mr Donald
родила
Hick 3411l
RESOVOD IN LISTRY NO. ST 3 0 NOV 1981
DENTIAL-
INDE-
૧૯
No
1 PS/LPS
1/121 ICO VI~
HONG KONG: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION BY CHILDREN FROM CHINA
Problem
1. What should be done about the large number of children being
smuggled into Hong Kong from China Hong Kong Telegram No 1055.
Recommendation
-
2. I recommend that the Lord Privy Seal agree that we accept
the Hong Kong Government's proposals. I submit a draft telegram.
FED and MVD agree.
Background and Argument
See (113
3. The policy of repatriating all illegal immigrants back to
China, as opposed to only those caught on entering Hong Kong, has
been in operation for 12 months and has worked well. It has been
well received in Hong Kong and has attracted no criticism here.
In recent weeks, however, large numbers of children have been
smuggled into Hong Kong and some of them cannot be repatriated.
The details are in paragraphs 1 to 3 of Hong Kong Telegram No 1055.
4. The problem falls into two separate parts. Those minors who
are caught on entering Hong Kong can be repatriated immediately
under existing legislation. This has not been done until now;
but the Hong Kong Government propose to do so in future.
Only
in the most exceptional cases would they be allowed to remain on
humanitarian grounds. This change of practice is unlikely to
attract publicity because the children would be held incommunicado
and returned quickly to China; their parents would be unaware of
their presence in the Territory. There is, of course, a strong
argument that an attempt should be made in every case to establish
CONFIDENTIAL
/the