DSR 11C
CONFIDENTIAL
practice of the Hong Kong Government in repatriating
illegal Chinese immigrants from Hong Kong can generally
be considered a success. Several factors have
contributed to this:
(a) Although the policy has been criticised by certain
groups, including ethnic Chinese inhabitants of Hong
Kong and humanitarian bodies around the world, the
extent of the problem facing Hong Kong, the limited
room for manoeuvre of the Hong Kong Government, and
the general support for the policy among the Hong
Kong population have been widely recognised;
(b) The policy has generally been carried out with the
agreement of the Chinese authorities, which share a
common interest in maintaining Hong Kong's stability
and have treated repatriated illegal immigrants
leniently;
(c) Operations to capture, hold and return illegal
immigrants have been undertaken in a low-profile
manner and the illegal immigrants themselves have
generally accepted their fate quietly.
too
7. Policy with regard to Vietnamese refugees in Hong
Kong has also varied. From 1979 to date over 140,000
Vietnamese entered Hong Kong as refugees, many having
left China illegally and posing as direct arrivals from
Initially, the refugees tended to be of Chinese
stock. Since 1980, most have been ethnic Vietnamese,
Vietnam.
CONFIDENTIAL