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were both signatories to the CPA, and that we wanted to handle the problem in accordance with the CPA. Abandoning first asylum remained an option of last resort, but it was not the easy solution it appeared. We needed to keep on side resettlement countries. Pushing boats out to sea would have the opposite effect. We were trying to convince all parties of the necessity of resuming mandatory repatriation.
8.
On smuggling I said that the situation had improved thanks in part to improved cooperation, but also because of the measures taken by HKG. The return of five cars had been
welcomed in HK as a concrete example of cooperation. But we needed to build on that start and get more back quickly. Ye
hoped that HKG could step up measures against smuggling as smuggling organisations were based in HK. I went through in some detail measures we had already taken and added that according to our information smuggling syndicates included both PRC and HK residents. We were working hard to put a stop to
these activities which were in the interests of neither side.
Ministry of Public Security
9.
I spent over two hours with Mr. Wang Luzhen of the Border Management Office, Ministry of Public Security, Mr. Yu Chengtao of Interpol China, and a Mr. He (no namecard) from the MPS's equivalent of Immigration Department. They obviously took the meeting seriously (the first between the MPS and a non-disciplined service HKG official?) as Wang had prepared a 10 page speaking note!
10.
On illegal immigration, Wang said that Guangdong had seized 50,000 people last year.
by HKG, much less than in 1988
1989). Most people came to HK variety of land and sea routes. I said illegal immigration
30,000 more had been sent back
(but of course more than in
to earn cash. They used a
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