TNAG-0663-FCO40-812-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 63

I

British Embassy

3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington DC 20008

Telex Domestic USA 89-2370/89-2384

Telex International 64224(WU!)/248308(RCA)/440015(ITT) Telephone (202) 462-1340

Mr W L Keighton 311, Cedar Lane Swarthmore

PA. 19081

RECEIVED IN

31

Your reference

A་-ཀའ་

10. 51

Our reference

243/2

Date

5 April 1977

1

12 APR 1977

HKK-341/201/1

Dear Mr Keighlin

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS INTO HONG KONG

In my letter of 1 April I said I would be replying - substantively to your enquiry about illegal immigrants into Hong Kong as soon as possible.

The Hong Kong government are trying to curb Chinese immigration into Hong Kong because of over population there. Hong Kong already has one of the highest population densities in the world. In certain districts it is as much as 40,000 to the square mile, ie 10 times greater than Tokyo. The levels of Chinese immigration in the years after the Cultural. Revolution were far more than Hong-Kong-could possibly absorb: 74,000 in 1973 compared with-37,000 in 1972 and fewer than 13,500 in 1971: These figures are of necessity estimates since not all immigrants were detected. If this sale in Hong Kong had been allowed to continue, all the efforts of the Hong Kong government in tackling the problems of housing, health, social services, education, unemployment would have been nullified.

Each illegal immigrant's case is examined quickly but care- fully on an individual basis and full account taken of any special circumstances, hardship or a claim to stay in Hong Kong. Problems arising from the separation of close relatives are naturally taken into account. The Hong Kong government believes that its policy of not allowing illegal immigrants to stay in Hong Kong except in exceptional circumstances is unavoidable.

Going to Hong Kong illegally is normally regarded by the Chinese authorities as a civil misdemeanor calling for measures of social and educational discipline rather than severe punish- ment. Our best information is that those who are returned face some penalty, but not a harsh one. The illegal immigrants are

/mostly