Applications under (a), (b), (c) and (d) would only be entertained if the sponsor had entered Hong Kong legally or had his stay here legalised before 30th April 1975 (the fall of Saigon).
It is believed that the effect of these special criteria would be the rejection of all except a few hundred of the 9,000 outstand- ing applications, and probably the rejection of 95 per cent or thereabouts of all future applications. The few that would be approved would be priority dependants.
18
It would be the intention to monitor closely the effect of the new criteria, and to consider recommending the reapplication of the full 1968 criteria to Vietnam should conditions there change to such an extent as to rule out the likelihood of any large scale transfer of population to Hong Kong.
19
Some of the applications received by the Immigration Department have been in respect of persons who entered Vietnam from Kampuchea during the past three years. It is expected that applications will be received before long from people who have succeeded in reach- ing Laos from Vietnam (or in certain circumstances, vice versa). Applications have also been received from people who have reached Thailand from Vietnam, as well as from Laos and Kampuchea. It is therefore proposed that the new criteria should apply to applications from people living in or originating in Vietnam, Laos and Kampuchea.
Public relations
20
It
It is not proposed to publish the new criteria as this would encourage people to tailor their applications to meet them, is however intended to watch the situation closely, and, if necessary, make a more general announcement about Hong Kong's inability to accept the large numbers of people who have applied.
Advice sought
21
Honourable Members will be asked to advise whether the new criteria listed in paragraph 16 should be applied to all out- standing and future applications to enter Hong Kong for settlement from stateless persons living in or originating in Vietnam, Laos and Kampuchea.
(The Secretary for Security (Mr L.M. DAVIES) and the Director of Immigration (Mr J. M. ROW LANDS) will attend before the Council for the discussion of this item).
2nd March 1978 (CR 2531/46 IV)
CONFIDENTIAL
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