CONFIDENTIAL
BY BAG
SCR 1/6/2091/55 v
SR MARTIN ESQ BRITISH EMBASSY PEKING
RECEIVED N
**2.51
10 MAY 1977
NICK SU1/301/
REF.
36
7 by Enter
6 May 1977
7/5
33
33
LEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA
Thank you for your reminder of 19 April (not to others) about Nick Fenn's letter of 14 February, enquiring whether we could agree to you using CHUI Kwong-shing's report on legal immigration from China, when speaking to the Chinese authorities.
J
2.
I was waiting to see what other reactions this report provoked and you will, I expect, have now read Tim David's interesting letter HKK 341/301/1 of 20 April to me. I have meanwhile discussed your request with Immigration Department, who consider that since the information in CHUI's report was not obtained from official sources but was built up over the months from questioning of new arrivals, it should only be used with caution, and not brought up in any official discussions which you may have with the Chinese authorities. you have such things as unofficial discussions with the Chinese, then Immigration Department would not object to your drawing on it.
3.
If
I am afraid this is a somewhat negative reply but since the Chinese authorities are undoubtedly sensitive to our questioning of arrivals from China (who, we believe, are briefed not to divulge information about Chinese policies), we are bound to take a rather careful line on matters of this sort.
4.
There has, incidentally, been a recent traveller's tale suggesting that a new approach to emigration problems is in the process of being worked out with Chairman HUA's approval. The implication was that it would result in exit visas being more easily obtainable by overseas Chinese and those having overseas connections than during the regime of the "Gang of Four", We shall see. The number of legal immigrants coming through Lo Wu has not increased
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