TNAG-0802-FCO40-1006-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 20

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For discussion

on 10th September 1974

ANNEX TO XCSI(78)2

XCS(74)3 Copy No

MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Background

IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA

The flow of legal and illegal immigrants from China to Hong Kong has become an increasingly serious problem in the last two years.

2

In 1973, 55, 660 arrived legally across the Lo Wu bridge. This compares with 20, 360 in 1972 and 2, 530 in 1971. In 1973, 6,060 illegal immigrants were arrested in comparison with 5, 690 in 1972 and 3, 470 in 1970. (We assume the total of illegals to be two or perhaps three times the number of those arrested). This movement out of China reflects the general relaxation following the retreat from the cultural revolution.

3

While we accept that a steady trickle of Chinese to join their relatives in Hong Kong must be permitted, an influx on the scale that was developing in 1973 was obviously unacceptable. We therefore considered whether we should reimpose the regular immigration controls at Lo Wu bridge which had been lifted since 1967, or whether we should attempt to persuade the Chinese authorities themselves to reduce the flow to an acceptable level. We decided to try the latter course first, principally because any attempt to reimpose controls in the face of the numbers then crossing might have precipitated a serious incident. We were also influenced by the fact that, in the final analysis, control of migration into Hong Kong from China depends on the co-operation of the Chinese authorities, and by our reluctance, at a time of improving Sino/ British relations, to confront the Chinese Government with a request for the abandonment of the supposed traditional right of Chinese to have access to Hong Kong.

4

Subsequently, a series of representations were made in both Peking and London. In the course of these the Chinese Government reacted strongly against the proposal that formal controls might be reimposed by the Hong Kong Government, but showed willingness to reduce the numbers themselves, provided they were allowed time to do so, In September 1973 the daily average of legals was 240. Thereafter the Chinese authorities took progressively more effective measures, so that by December 1973 the daily figure of legal immigrants at Lo Wu had been

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