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to FED 224/400/01 Copy to sucecsson
CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
CORY ON HUB 12/27
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
10
9
#| 12
3:
Cypher
Do
4th March, 1967.
R. 4th
#
#t
08.10 hrs.
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES 34-.63
-7 MAN./0/
PRIORITY
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 286.
Addressed to Commonwealth office. Repeated
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Peking No. 98 (Please pass).
HWA 4/1
!
Illegal Immigrants.
In the last fortnight there have been developments
in the attitude of the Chinese frontier authorities at Lo Wu to the return of illegal immigrants from Hong Kong.
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Previously, illegal immigrants whom we have wished to return have been taken to the frontier and there questioned by the Chinese guards. The latter have refused to accept them unless they have been convinced that the people to be returned (a) are genuinely illegal immigrants, not criminal deportees; and (b) are willing to return to China. On 16th February, however, the Chinese frontier guards took a new line when attempts were being made to repatriate a party of 10 illegal immigrants. Two were persuaded to go forward to the border line in the normal manner; but though they told the Chinese guards that they did not wish to return to China, they · were seized by them and taken off. The remaining eight refused to go forward and were retained in our custody. On the following day the Chinese authorities sent out immigration office at the border a message to the effect that they were to take back the remaining members of the party. They added that provided the frontier bridge was quiet they should be sent back in any way possible, including the use of force. Later, a China Travel Service representative indicated that the Chinese officials would co-operate by stopping the inward flow of traffic to avoid having witnesses on the bridge when force was being used to repatriate individuals. A non-commital answer was given to this and the remaining eight illegal immigrants remained in the Colony.
They have since been released.
A
3 On 23rd and 24th February 24 illegal immigrants who had arrived in a junk from Swatow were taken to Lo Wu for repatriation. All except two refused to go on the bridge. message was then received from the Chinese frontier guards indicating that they would expect the forced return of the party and in particular two men who were described as "instigators of the escape" When the immigration officer in charge refused to agree to this, the Chinese said that they would refuse to accept any of the party unless the two
•
/"instigators"
CONFIDENT LAL
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