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crossing has been to decline to accept the return of arrested illegal immigrants who did not wish to be repatriated. With the onset of the Cultural Revolution and the Red Guard movement the number of immigrants refusing to return to China has increased. On the 16th February, 1967, ten illegal immigrants were taken to Lo Wu but all indicated their reluctance to go back over the border. Two were persuaded to go forward in the usual way and explain their position to the C.P.G. guards, but when being questioned just inside Chinese territory they were seized and carried off struggling. The remaining eight illegal immigrants in the party were returned by the police the next day but refused to go onto the bridge. The C.P.G. authorities then relayed a message through the China Travel Service (C.T.S.) to the effect that they were ready to receive the immigrants and that they should be sent across the border in any way, by force if necessary. On the same day a C.T.S. representative asked the British police officer on the bridge if the Hong Kong authorities would put unwilling illegal immigrants over the border, adding that the Chinese authorities would if necessary stop the flow of traffic across the bridge so that there should be no witnesses if force was to be used.
5.
On the 23rd February 24 illegal immigrants who had entered the Colony after seizing a junk belonging to a commune were taken to the border for repatriation. All except two who claimed to have been brought to Hong Kong against their will refused to go onto the bridge. The C.T.S. then again passed a message to the effect that the Chinese authorities were willing to accept the return of the whole party, by force if necessary, but in particular rcquired the return of two men allegedly responsible for the theft of the junk; unless these two were returned, they would refuse to accept the two commune members who wished to return to China. The Chinese officials stopped all incoming travellers but when, after about ten minutes, it became clear that the Hong Kong Irmigration authorities would not use force, the traffic resumed. The next day when the party was again sent to the border all refused to set foot upon the bridge except the two commune members who had allegedly come to Hong Kong against their will. These two crossed the border and spoke to the guards but one suddenly turned and ran back into British territory. It was afterwards discovered that he had been informed that he would be arrested and sent to prison. The remaining commune member was taken away under C.P.G. escort. These incidents which represent a very distinct change in attitude by the Chinese officials at the border may very possibly foreshadow increased Chinese pressure for the return of illegal immigrants from Hong Kong.
6.
On 27th February, a party of officials from the Sze Hau fishing commune in Chinese territory reported to the Police that a party of eight members of the commune had entered the Colony illegally and were hiding in a temple at Lau Fau Shan. The party of illegal immigrants were taken to Yuen Long Police Station where they were still being held at the end of the month. The commune members demanded that the Police hand the illegal immigrants over to them direct, but were informed that the matter would be dealt with in the normal way. They then complained that a Police officer had handcuffed two of the commune members (mistaking them for illegal immigrants) and "insulted" the works of MAO, and demanded an apology. After being given a written acknowledgement of the report they had made at the Police Station and being promised written acknowledgement of the complaint lodged against the Police actions they returned to Chinese territory on the evening of the 28th February, stating their
/intention
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