TNAG-0802-FCO40-1006-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 37

CONFIDENTIAL

HKIS 341/1

Gx 185

C

FIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 070455Z DEC 78

INDEX

RECEIVED REGISTRY NO. 51

DEC1978

DESK ON.

RY

on Ten

157

TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

TELMO.222 OF 7 DECEMBER,

INFO F.C.O., UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT

OFFICE LONDON,

INFO SAVING HANOI.

155

MY TELNO.220 : ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ORIGINALLY FROM VIETNAM,

1. THE LOCAL PRESS HAVE UNFORTUNATELY DISCOVERED THAT ALL THIS GROUP OF ILLEGALS WHOM WE ARE ASKING THE CHINESE TO TAKE BACK ARE BEING DETAINED AT TONG FUK CENTRE (A PRISON) ON LANTAU ISLAND.

WE HAVE BEEN ASKED HOW MANY OF THESE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES' THERE ARE AND HOW MANY ARE ETHNIC CHINESE. GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICS HAVE REPLIED THAT: ''THE 277 PERSONS DETAINED AT TONG FUK CENTRE

THE ARRIVED ILLEGALLY FROM CHINA AND ALL ARE ETHNIC CHINESE'. STORY IS CARRIED; ACCURATELY AND BRIEFLY, ON THE FRONT PAGE OF TODAY'S S.C.M.P. THE STORY QUOTES ''SOURCES'' AS SAYING THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS STILL TRYING TO PRSUADE THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES TO ACCEPT THE GROUP AND SPECULATES THAT MORE WILL INEVITABLY COME

"IF PEKING DOES NOT REVERSE ITS DECISION''.

2. WE HAVE TOLD THE N.C.N. A THAT THE FIGURE OF 277 INCLUDES A

NEW GROUP OF 24. WE SUGGEST THAT YOU MENTION THIS GROUP WHEN YOU NEXT RAISE THIS ISSUE WITH THE CHINESE.

FCO PLEASE PASS SAVINGS HANOI.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HKOG.D(6)

UND FED

SEAD

[REPEATED

AS REQUESTED]

COPIES

ΤΟ

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

01D

NEWSD

MR CORTAZZI

MR STRATTON

MR MURRAY

VA CONFIDENTIAL