4.
Those who are caught at the frontier are not automatically repatriated. Each case is dealt with on its merits, and, if there are strong humanitarian reasons, the immigrant is not repatriated. All the evidence we have suggests that those who are repatriated are not harshly treated by the Chinese. The Secretary of State has confirmed that the policy of repatriation should be continued, since it is a deterrent to the large numbers who would otherwise try to cross into Hong Kong and who would place an intolerable burden on Hong Kong's social services. None of those who are repatriated claim to be refugees from persecution in China: almost without exception, they are attracted to Hong Kong by the prospect of better material conditions of living.
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