CONFIDENTIAL
Visit to the New Territories Border with China
33. The half day which I spent on 10 August visiting the border between China and the New Territories demonstrated the practical feasibility of a rapid repatriation scheme, provided the receiving authorities (in this case the Chinese authorites) are prepared to cooperate. Illegal immigrants are returned to China within 48 hours of apprehension at a current rate of between 10-30 per day. The highest rate last year was 130 per day. Many of those trying to enter Hong Kong have relatives there. Others are trying to take up jobs in a building industry with a severe labour shortage and high wages. Exemplary sentences (15 months in prison) have recently been handed down to some organisers of illegal immigration into the building industry and this may act as a disincentive. But the fact that Vietnamese boat people are admitted to Hong Kong and housed and fed at considerable expense to the Hong Kong taxpayer, whereas the Chinese are summarily expelled, represents a political problem for the Hong Kong Government of no small proportions. It is also worth noting that the UNHCR takes no interest at all in the situation along the border with China and the screening procedure for those attempting to cross is concerned solely with their identification (and who may be assisting them), not their motivation.
CONFIDENTIAL
CA2AIU