CONFIDENTIAL
123521
MDHIAN 4875
BE A CONTINUING PROBLEM WHICH WE NEED TO FACE UP TO REALISTICALLY
AND DEAL WITH IN PRACTICAL WAYS. THE MORE WE DO TO MAKE HONG KONG
A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN, BY IMPROVING EDUCATION, HOUSING, THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE, THE LESS LIKELY PEOPLE ARE TO WANT TO CUT THEMSELVES OFF FROM THEIR ROOTS AND LEAVE THIS REMARKABLE TERRITORY TO WHICH THEY ARE SO DEEPLY AND RIGHTLY
ATTACHED.
(B)
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
SUCH
117. JUST AS EMIGRATION IS A LONG STANDING HISTORICAL PHENOMENON, SO IS IMMIGRATION, BOTH LEGAL AND ILLEGAL. EARLIER THIS YEAR ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION WAS REACHING SERIOUS LEVELS. IN MAY WE WERE
RETURNING AN AVERAGE OF 100 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS A DAY TO CHINA.
LARGE NUMBERS REPRESENT A SERIOUS PROBLEM. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, WHO
CAN NEVER LEGITIMIZE THEIR POSITION ARE ALL TO EASY A PREY FOR
CRIMINAL ELEMENTS AND MAY TURN TO OTHER ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES
THEMSELVES. TO CURB THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ENTERING HONG
KONG, THE GOVERNMENT HAVE SINCE MAY PROSECUTED GROUPS ARRESTED AT THEIR PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT, AS WELL AS EMPLOYERS FOUND AIDING AND ABETTING THEM. I AM PLEASED TO SAY THAT THIS MEASURE HAS PROVED EFFECTIVE. THERE HAS BEEN A SHARP DROP IN THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL
IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED ON ENTRY. BUT WE MUST MAINTAIN OUR VIGILANCE.
WE SHALL CONTINUE TO USE ALL MEANS AT OUR DISPOSAL TO DETER WOULD-BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
ENDS
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
62
.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
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