TNAG-0663-FCO40-812-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 70

GRS 300

CYPHER CAT/A

FM HONG KONG 04084ØZ

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN

REGISTRY NO. 51

5 APR 1977

MKK /a/l

TO PRIORITY WASHINGTON TELEGRAM NO 10 OF 4 APRIL

INFO F C 0.

YOUR TELEGRAM NO 18: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

NEXT

REF.

26)

WE AGREE WITH YOUR PROPOSAL TO DRAW ON SELECTED PARAGRAPHS

OF THE LETTER TO SIR JOHN LANGFORD-HOLT.

2. YOU MAY ALSO WISH TO ADD TWO FURTHER POINTS. FIRST, TO

BOLSTER THE ARGUMENT THAT THE PEOPLE CONCERNED ARE NOT

''REFUGEES'' IN THE USUAL POLITICAL SENSE, YOU COULD INCLUDE THE THOUGHTS FROM PARAGRAPH 7 OF THE LETTER (A) THAT OUR

BEST INFORMATION IS THAT THOSE WHO ARE RETURNED FACE SOME

PENALTY BUT NOT A HARSH ONE AND (B) THAT GOING TO HONG KONG ILLEGALLY WOULD NORMALLY BE REGARDED BY THE CHINESE

AUTHORITIES AS A CIVIL MISDEMEANOUR CALLING FOR MEASURES OF

SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL DISCIPLINE RATHER THAN SEVERE

PUNISHMENT.

રત

3. THE SECOND DEALS WITH THE ARGUMENT IN THE INCOMING LETTER

(YOUR TELEGRAM NO 19) THAT ESCAPEES ARE TRYING TO JOIN OTHERS OF THEIR FAMILY ALREADY IN HONG KONG. YOU COULD STRESS THAT

SINCE EACH CASE IS EXAMINED CAREFULLY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS

TO DETERMINE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OR HARDSHIP OR A CLAIM TO

STAY IN HONG KONG, PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE SEPARATION OF CLOSE RELATIVES WOULD NATURALLY BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. HOWEVE,

IT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED THAT THE LINKS BETWEEN PEOPLE LIVING IN

HONG KONG AND THEIR FELLOW CANTONESE IN KWANGTUNG PROVINCE ARE

CLOSE AND A BALANCE HAS TO BE STRUCK BETWEEN COMPASSION AND

SOUND POLICY. HENCE THE IMPORTANCE OF STICKING TO THE LINE THAT

EVERY CASE OF AN ILLEGAL APPREHENDED ON ENTRY FROM CHINA IS

CONSIDERED ON ITS INDIVIDUAL MERITS.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HKD (3)

FED

MVD

CONFIDENTIAL