CONFIDENTIAL
8
Illegal Immigration from China
17. Between 1971 and 1973 the total number of immigrants from China into Hong Kong increased from about 13,500 to some 74,000
a year.
This imposed a heavy strain on the Colony's resources. Since November 1974 following discussions with the Chinese, all illegal immigrants apprehended on first entry into the Colony, have been returned to China, except where special circumstances apply or in cases of genuine hardship. The number of legal immigrants (those with Chinese exit permits) has also declined.
18.
Immigration is a constant problem for Hong Kong, since it tends to be regarded as a haven by potential refugees from other parts of the region. Over the last year, for example, Hong Kong has been one of the principal sanctuaries for Vietnamese refugees, particularly those who are picked up at sea. Hong Kong's capacity to accept such refugees even temporarily, is severely limited by the strain imposed on its essential services by an already overcrowded population. (With a population of about 4.5 million in an area of just 400 square miles, Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated places in the world.)
POLITICAL ORGANISATION
19. The Chinese Communist Party representatives in Hong Kong regulate the activities of local Communist organisations so as not to disturb the internal stability necessary for economic growth. They thus help to maintain the financial and commercial advantages which China derives from Hong Kong. The Party controls a hard core of disciplined, ideologically-inspired activists who administer a number of overt Communist organisations. These include 200,000
Trade Unionists, 33,000 school children and several thousand employees of Communist commercial and banking enterprises. Support from a few rich middle class Chinese completes a powerful power base. The Chinese Government have in the past asked to be allowed to appoint an official representative in Hong Kong.
Their request
was turned down by Sir Alec Douglas Home in June 1973. The Chinese
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CONFIDENTIAL
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