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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1979
SIR MURRAY NOTED THAT SINCE JANUARY 1 LAST YEAR, THE GAIN FROM LEGAL AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION HAD BEEN OF THE ORDER OF 230 000, +AND THE NEW RASH OF SQUATTER HUTS ON THE HILLSIDES IS THERE FOR ALL TO SEE.+
+WHATEVER THE REASONS FOR THE RECENT INFLUX OF NEW ARRIVALS FROM CHINA, A MARKED REDUCTION IN BOTH LEGAL AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IS NOW, THEREFORE, ESSENTIAL.+
DURING THE 12 MONTHS FROM OCTOBER 1, 1978 TO SEPTEMBER 30 THIS YEAR, HE SAID, ABOUT 83 000 HAD ENTERED HONG KONG LEGALLY ALMOST ALL OF THEM NOMINALLY ON VISITS, BUT ONLY THREE PER CENT HAD RETURNED TO CHINA.
THE DAILY ARRIVAL RATE REACHED A PEAK OF 310 FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 1978 AND IS NOW AVERAGING 170.
IT IS DISAPPOINTING THAT THIS FIGURE HAS NOT CONTINUED TO DROP AS WE HOPED IT WOULD AND AS WE WERE ASSURED IT WOULD,+ SIR MURRAY SAID.
AS TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ABOUT 60 000 HAD BEEN ARRESTED AND RETURNED TO CHINA DURING THE SAME 12-MONTH PERIOD FROM OCTOBER TO SEPTEMBER.
+THE LARGE NUMBERS ARRESTED REFLECT GREAT CREDIT ON THE SECURITY FORCES, BUT IN SPITE OF ALL THEIR EFFORTS, THE NUMBER OF THOSE WHO HAVE SUCCEEDED IN ENTERING AND JOINING THE HONG KONG POPULATION REMAINS HIGH, SIR MURRAY SAID. +PROBABLY FROM OCTOBER 1, 1978 TO AUGUST 31, 1979 IT WAS ABOUT 96 000.+
SIR MURRAY SAID HONG KONG HAD SOUGHT TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS BY CONSULTATION WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES AND ALSO BY REINFORCING THE GARRISON AND STRENGTHENING OTHER ANTI-ILLEGAL
IMMIGRATION MEASURES.
+THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES TOOK HIGHLY EFFECTIVE ACTION AGAINST ILLEGAL MOVEMENT INTO HONG KONG IN JUNE AND JULY AND THE ARREST RATE DROPPED FROM A PEAK OF 465 PER DAY FOR THE MONTH OF MAY TO 20 PER DAY IN JULY.
+HOWEVER, THE IMPROVEMENT HAS SLIPPED SIGNIFICANTLY AND ARREST RATES HAVE CLIMBED BACK TO AN AVERAGE OF 180 A DAY IN SEPTEMBER,+ HE SAID.
SIR MURRAY SAID HONG KONG WAS DETERMINED TO MAINTAIN INCREASED EFFORT ROUND THE ENTIRE LAND AND SEA PERIMETER.
RECENTLY, HE NOTED, A MILITARY HOVERCRAFT AND SMALL FAST PATROL CRAFT HAD BEEN BROUGHT OUT TO AUGMENT PRESENT STRENGTH, AND NINE NEW LARGE POLICE LAUNCHES HAVE BEEN ORDERED AND WILL BE COMMISSIONED WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR,
+THERE WILL ALSO BE SUCH A CONSIDERABLE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF GURKHA TROOPS AVAILABLE TO US BY NOVEMBER THAT IT WILL MAKE POSSIBLE THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE EXTRA UK BATTALION, SIR MURRAY SAID.
+ IMMEDIATE FURTHER REINFORCEMENT WILL OF COURSE CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE AT VERY SHORT NOTICE FROM BRUNEI IF WE NEED THEM. BUT I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT THE KEY TO THIS PROBLEM LIES IN GUANGDONG.+
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