(2)
нак збору
RECEIVED IN RECASTRY NO. 51 3 FEB 1981
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
GPS 180
UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG 260842Z JAN 81
TO PRIORITY PEKING
TELEGRAM NUMBER 32 OF 26 JANUARY
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON
F CO
MYTELNO 60 TO FCO - SMUGGLING INTO CHINA.
INDEX
من
INCLUDED IN A SPEECH GIVEN BY THE GOVERNOR ON 23 JANUARY WAS THE
FOLLOWING PASSAGE:-
''PERHAPS NOT UNCONNECTED WITH OUR SUCCESSFUL ATTACK ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION THERE HAS BEEN A SUDDEN INCREASE IN TWO-WAY SMUGGLING OF GOODS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA, MOSTLY BY BOAT. THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES AND OURSELVES TAKE AN EQUALLY SERIOUS VIEW OF THIS FURTHER MANIFESTATION OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ACROSS THE FRONTIER. IT COULD SPAWN OUT INTO OTHER CRIMES AND IT COULD CAUSE FRICTION WITH OUR NEIGHBOUR. OUR LEGISLATION HAS BEEN EXAMINED TO SEE HOW MOST EFFECTIVELY WE CAN PREVENT THESE ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING FOR EXAMPLE CONFISCATION OF THE SMUGGLED GOODS, AND IN SERIOUS CASES, CONFISCATION OF VESSELS OR CANCELLATION OF THE LICENCES OF THEIR
MASTERS''
2. THIS PASSAGE WAS GIVEN PROMINENT TREATMENT BY BOTH THE CHINESE
AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE PRESS HERE. ADDITIONAL DETAILS REGARDING THE LEGISLATION AND THE PENALTIES WERE GIVEN SUBSEQUENTLY BY THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN AND WERE ALSO WELL PUBLICISED.
MACLEHOSE
MINIMAL
HKYGD
FED
COPIES TO
P0131
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
LONDON
THIS TELEGRAM
WAS NOT
ADVANCED