TNAG-0801-FCO40-1005-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 199

SCR 1/6/2091/55

OTE FOR THE RECORD

CONFIDENTIAL

HKK 34/1.

12

0.

Legal Immigration from China

No

لمه

When Mr Tan of the NCNA came to see me today on other business, I spoke to him about legal immigration from China. I explained that the number of people crossing into Hong Kong at Lowu had been increasing over the past year. In November 1976 the daily average had been 51. In October, November and December 1977 the daily average had been 74, 82 and 97 respectively. I gave him a piece of paper, marked Confidential, showing the daily averages from November 1976 to date.

2.

I said that Mr Tan would be well aware of the population problem in Hong Kong and all the difficulties that flowed from it. I thought that the Chinese authorities were also well aware of these difficulties and sympathetic about them. Given this background, I wished to let Mr Tan know that we were worried about the trend of the figures. I added that it was of course easier for Hong Kong to absorb and look after those who had close family relatives here than those who did not.

3*

Mr Tan asked if a large number of those coming into Hong Kong, particularly from provinces other than Kwangtung, were not merely in transit on their way elsewhere. I said it was true that some were. It was not possible to be precise about whether a particular individual who came in went on or stayed. Nevertheless, the overall figures suggested that a large proportion, possibly between 70 and 80%, stayed in Hong Kong. Mr Tan said that he would report our conversation. He wished, however, to point out that the Chinese Government could not put difficulties in the way of people visiting or joining their relatives. The Chinese authorities believed in freedom for Chinese people to move into and out of Hong Kong. I decided not to comment on his disingenuous remark. Instead I replied by saying that we would not wish to put obstacles in the way of people who had legitimate reason for coming to Hong Kong. However, in view of our good relations and my belief that the Chinese authorities understood our population difficulties, I thought it only right to point out our concern about the number of people who had been coming in recently,

CC

(DC Wilson) Political Adviser

4.1.78

J AR Stewart Esq ORE (HKGD FCO)

RC Samuel Esq (FED FCO) PjL Popplewell Esq (PEKING)

CONFIDENTIAL

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