THURSDAY, OCTOBER, 23, 1980
THIRDLY, THAT DIRECT DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE LEADERS AT CENTRAL AND PROVINCIAL LEVEL HAD CONFIRMED OUR BELIEF THAT THIS CHANGE OF POLICY ON OUR PART REALLY WOULD ASSIST THEM AND US AND THAT, HAVING REGARD TO THE NEW AND RESOLUTE ACTION WE WOULD TAKE, WE COULD COUNT ON THEM ALSO STEPPING UP THEIR OWN EFFORTS SO THAT, WITH EACH OF US ADOPTING OUR OWN MEASURES, THERE WOULD BE A PROSPECT OF THIS MOVEMENT OF POPULATION BEING HALTED. AFTER THE VERY POSITIVE RESPONSE OF THE LEADERS IN GUANGDONG, ON THIS TOO I AM ALSO NOW SATISFIED.
FINALLY, THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WERE SO ALIVE TO THE DANGER THAT TRADITIONAL HOSPITALITY WAS CREATING, THAT THEY HAD COME TO ACCEPT THAT IT MUST BE ABANDONED DESPITE THE PERSONAL PROBLEMS AND INCONVENIENCE ENTAILED. +OF ALL THE CONDITIONS THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT. ADVICE IS UNANIMOUS THAT THIS CONDITION IS NOW MET.+
REFERRING TO LEGAL IMMIGRATION, SIR MURRAY SAID THE DAILY FIGURE OF 150 WAS MUCH TOO HIGH AND HE HOPED IT WOULD COME DOWN.
+SOONER OR LATER MEANS MUST BE FOUND OF ENABLING PEOPLE FROM GUANGDONG TO PAY GENUINE SHORT VISITS TO THEIR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES IN HONG KONG WHILE ENSURING THAT THEY DO NOT STAY HERE PERMANENTLY, HE SAID.
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO DETER ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION *****
LEGISLATION TO DISCOURAGE AND DETER ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION WAS PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON.
IN INTRODUCING THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1980, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JACK CATER, SAID THE MESSAGE HAD TO BE GOT BACK TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN CHINA'S COMMUNES THAT FROM NOW ON LIFE IN HONG KONG FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WOULD NOT ONLY BE UNPLEASANT BUT ALSO INTOLERABLE.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SOONER OR LATER WOULD BE DETECTED AND REPATRIATED. A VERY IMPORTANT DETERRENT WOULD BE THE FACT THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WORK LEGALLY.
SIR JACK SAID THE BILL PROVIDED THE MACHINERY TO BRING TO AN END THE UNACCEPTABLE SITUATION WHICH HAD DEVELOPED IN HONG KONG THESE PAST TWO YEARS.
/THE FIRST