TNAG-0803-FCO40-1007-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 35

FROM

NICHOLAS

BETHELL

Lord Goronwy-Roberts, Foreign and Commonwealth LONDON SW1A 2AH.

Dear Gormury,

HOUSE

OF

LORDS

TELEPHONE

01-402-6877

for it.K.G.

roxi

Mausami 82 1/12

1. Mr

Me Thom

2 p.a.

HKK 344/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 19 DEC 1978

DISK OF CER

INDax

PA

Action T

RY

177

DATNISTER.

towalın

73 SUSSEX SQUARE

LONDON W2 2SS

14th December 1978

м.

они

CLE

This is just to thank you for your detailed letter of December 11th explaining British policy over the repatriation of Chinese refugees and others who enter Hong Kong illegally.

I appreciate that it is possible to deduce from previous statements in Parliament on this matter that genuine political refugees have never been sent back to the People's Republic by force. Nevertheless, it may be that your statement on November 8th was the first clear and succinct statement of the policy. At least that is what the Hong Kong press seem to imagine.

I send you all good wishes for Christmas and the New Year,

Yours ever

Micholas

Lord Bethell