39
NOTE FOR THE FILE
Mr Quantrill
Mr Thompson
HONG KONG: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
HKK 341/30/1
RECAVAR
DECK
INDEX
No
3 1 OCT 1977
NO. 51
FREES
Actio:
An.
1. I discussed this question with Mr Davies, Secretary for Security in Hong Kong, who assured me that they were very conscious of the dangers of public opinion being focused on alleged mistreat- ment of illegal immigrants returned to Communist China. The officers responsible for the screening process had been intensively instructed to be sensitive to the dangers of returning illegal immigrants to China who might be harshly treated on their return.
Harrassment of the Hong Kong Fishing Boats
2. The Secretary for Security confirmed by the Assistant Political Adviser, was of the opinion that the recent harrassment is largely due to local communes taking matters into their own hands and either working off old scores or reacting to temporary harsher conditions in southern China as a result of the poor harvest in recent months.
3. I was lobbied strongly on the need for maintaining a 5th Gurkha battalion in the United Kingdom which is necessary for flexibility in the Gurkha field force and also to provide some variety for the soldiers from what would otherwise be a lifetime of service in Hong Kong, particularly after the Gurkha battalion is withdrawn from Brunei.
JA B Stewart
28 October 1977
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