TNAG-0522-FCO40-617-Discussions-with-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 3

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RECCRD CF A MEETING BETWEEN LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS AND THE GOVERNOR

OF HONG KONG HELD IN THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ON

TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER AT 10.45 am

Those Present:

Lord Goronwy-Roberts

Sir Duncan Watson

Mr Larmour

Mr Male

Mr O'Keeffe

Mr Galsworthy

Mr Hurst, Deputy Labour Adviser

Mr Milton

Mr Janvrin

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA INTO HONG KONG

1.

Sir Murray MacLehose

Mr Kidd, Hong Kong Government

Office

Lord Goronwy-Roberts said that there was still interest amongst MPs and certain organisations in this issue: although the policy was now broadly accepted there were still requests for figures and details. He added that in explaining the policy he lent heavily on the fact that genuine humanitarian and political cases were not returned and therefore these qualifications should be closely observed.

He asked the Governor whether the authorities in Hong Kong were concerned about large numbers of illegal immigrants evading the security net.

2.

The Governor said that there were no signs of significant evasion. He then said that he was aware of ideas that Hong Kong should try to pass on illegal immigrants to Taiwan. He was strongly opposed to this. Such a course would be an intolerable affront to China. There was no evidence that illegal immigrants returned to China received harsh treatment. Hong Kong intelligence on this matter was good. Asked about legal immigrants he said that the numbers had fallen to around 60 a day since November 1974, when thepolicy of returning illegal immigrants had been re-established. This was a

good example of the way in which it was possible to obtain results from the Chinese without any specific agreement. In conclusion Lord Goronwy-Roberts mentioned that it was very often specific cases

/which

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