TNAG-0664-FCO40-813-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 37

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13 DEC 1977 RECORD OF A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS AND MR JOHN ROPER MP AND COLONEL MONTGOMERY, HELD AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ON WEDNESDAY 7 DECEMBER 1977 AT 10 AM.

Present:-

Rt Hon Lord Goronwy-Roberts of Carnaervon and Ogwen

Mr John Roper MP

Colonel Montgomery

Human Rights.

Mr P Bacon

Mr M J Upton

1.

Anti-Slavery Society for the Protection of

Mr Roper expressed some misgivings regarding Hong Kong's policy of returning illegal immigrants to China. He noted that the flood of illegal immigrants who were permitted to stay in Hong Kong in the early 1970s had placed a considerable burden. on the Colony's services, but that, since 1974, an increasing number had been returned to China. He quoted an article in Le Monde of 29 November which stated that 1400 illegal immigrants had been returned to China so far this year. Mr Roper said that, according to the article, there were increasing numbers of political dissidents and fewer educated young Chinese in these statistics. Mr Roper thought that those who were returned were not badly treated but added that, according to the Le Monde article, those. illegal immigrants returned after subsequent attempts were placed in something like labour camps, which he thought indicated a tougher Chinese attitude.

2.

In effect Mr Roper and Colonel Montgomery asked the Minister for clarification of three main points. Firstly, they wanted to know what were the latest figures for illegal immigrants sent back to China from Hong Kong this year; secondly, what criteria did the Hong Kong authorities use to decide whether or not to return an illegal immigrant; thirdly, whether the Minister was satisfied over the interrogation procedures used on those appre- hended by the Hong Kong authorities.

3.

Mr Roper added that, in his opinion, the interviews were effective but short. He wondered whether there was any legal advice available to those apprehended.

4.

Lord Goronwy-Roberts expressed his appreciation at the thoughtful and constructive way in which Mr Roper had presented the problem. He undertook to pass to Mr Roper and Colonel Montgomery the latest available figures on illegal immigrants, and to answer Mr Roper's other points after obtaining the necessary information. Lord Goronwy-Roberts agreed that over the past 10 years there

/ had been

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