CONFIDENTIAL
137173 MDHOAN 8210
(D) ON THE QUESTION OF ACCESS TO RESETTLEMENT OF THESE WHO ARE FOUND TO BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT SUCH ARRANGEMENTS COULD UNDERMINE THE CLEAR
MESSAGE OF THE NEW POLICY. ON FAMILY REUNION CASES, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY THINK WE SHOULD MAKE IT ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT THE ORDERLY
DEPARTURE PROGRAMME IS THE ONLY ROUTE FOR FAMILY REUNION.
(E)
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WELCOME YOUR OFFER TO PROVIDE
TECHNICAL AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN DEVELOPING APPROPRIATE
GUIDELINES FOR SCREENING PROCEDURES. THEY SEE CONSIDERABLE VALUE IN PURSUING THIS COOPERATION IN HONG KONG, WHERE THE PROCEDURES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED. THEY HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE
TO SEND AN EXPERT TO HONG KONG AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO
DISCUSS THESE MATTERSS DIRECTLY WITH THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT
STAFF WHO WILL CONDUCT THE SCREENING INTERVIEWS, AND TO SEE FOR HIMSELF HOW THE GUIDELINES ARE BEING OPERATED IN PRACTICE.
(F) WE HOPE THAT THESE COMMENTS CLARIFY THE POSITION AND WILL
ASSIST YOU IN YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THE NEW POLICY
2.
·
ON POINT (D) ABOVE YOU MAY WISH ORALLY TO DIFFERENTIATE
BETWEEN THE PUBLIC POSITION THAT THOSE SCREENED OUT WILL HAVE NO
ACCESS TO RESETTLEMENT AND THE (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) PRIVATE
POSITION THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT DO INTEND TO RESERVE
THE RIGHT TO RECONSIDER ANY SUCH CASES AT A LATER STAGE
ON A LIMITED, CASE BY CASE BASIS.
HOWE
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
57
DISTRIBUTION
57
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
NEWS DEPT
PS
PS/MRS CHALKER
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR MCLAREN
NNNN
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