TNAG-0664-FCO40-813-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 63

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We therefore believe that it is essential to reach at least a tacit, (and eventually preferably an explicit) general understanding with the Chinese about what they and we will do to control both illegal and legal traffic. The difficulty is that, while our main objective must be the reduction of the legal traffic, we cannot be sure that if we return illegals to the limited extent proposed, the Chinese will respond by bringing the number of legals down to our acceptable maximum of 50 a day.

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So far, the Chinese have shown themselves unwilling to accept to link the two categories and we were satisfied that any hint that our action on illegals was in any sense conditional on Chinese action to reduce illegals, would have been most unwise. Our hope is that, sooner or later, it may be possible to reach a clear understanding with the Chinese on the reduction of legals, as part of an overall agreement to improve order on the frontier, but we are frankly doubtful if we will be able to do so, though we believe that the Chinese will, in practice, respond by reducing legals if they are satisfied that events have demonstrated our sincerity over the return of illegals.

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We also hope that it may be possible, at some point in future negotiations, to introduce the suggestion that China might be prepared to accept the deportation to China from Hong Kong of criminals and other undesirables who are Chinese nationals. However, it is hardly practicable to put forward such a proposal at this stage, in view of our reluctance to return to China those whom the Chinese regard as criminals.

Publicity

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Our proposed action will be sharply criticised by the Nationalist elements, Christian agencies and part of the expatriate press in Hong Kong. The level of criticism will to some extent depend on the degree to which individual cases of refugees are exposed in the media. The return of illegals cannot be expected to be popular; nevertheless, we believe that the population will understand the need for the action and accept it, while no doubt reserving the right to complain about any action taken that affects their own relatives. They are also likely to be reassured by such a tangible sign of cross-border co-operation.

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In the UK, we expect to be attacked by the usual critics of Hong Kong and by Amnesty, etc. But in view of China's relatively good standing with such agencies we do not expect the