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FM F C O 111650Z DEC 78
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
see 173
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TELEGRAM NUMBER 795 OF 11 DECEMBER.
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG UKMIS GENEVA
INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON
HKK 341
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 13 DEC1978
DESK CAMER INDEX
PA
линии
RĘC HY ⚫ction
محمدم
HANOI (VIENTIANE PLEASE PASS BY BAG). 159
YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 893: IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA.
1. SUBJECT TO THE COMMENT IN PARAGRAPH 2 BELOW, WE AGREE THAT YOU SHOULD NOW TAKE ACTION ON THE LINES PROPOSED IN PARAGRAPH 6 OF HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 1387. TO STRESS THE GRAVITY OF THE PROBLEM YOU SHOULD ASK TO SEE THE FOREIGN MINISTER PERSONALLY, ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT ARISES FROM MY DISCUSSION WITH HIM IN LONDON.
2. AS THE GOVERNOR POINTS OUT, THE INTRODUCTION OF CONTROLS ON THE HONG KONG SIDE OF THE BORDER WOULD PRESENT MAJOR POLITICAL AND PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES AND COULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED AS A LAST RESORT. AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, WE WOULD PREFER THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPOSING CONTROLS TO BE MENTIONED IN MORE GENERAL TERMS THAN
THOSE PROPOSED IN THE LAST TWO SENTENCES OF PARAGRAPH 6 OF HONG
KONG TEL. UNDER REFERENCE. WE SHOULD LIKE YOU TO AVOID SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO QUOTE REINTRODUCTION OF THE MEASURES OF CONTROL NORMAL BEFORE 1967 UNQUOTE, AND TO SAY SOMETHING ON THE FOLLOWING . LINES :
QUOTE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THERE SHOULD BE A SUBSTANTIAL
FALL IN THE NUMBERS. IF THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN VERY SOON, HONG KONG MAY HAVE TO CONSIDER INTRODUCING ITS OWN MEASURES OF CONTROL IN
ORDER TO REDUCE THE FLOW TO AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL. BUT THE
DRITISH GOVERNMENT AND THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES WOULD MUCH PREFER THIS TO BE ACHIEVED BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES THEMSELVES. UNQUOTE.
3. WE ALSO AGREE THAT YOU SHOULD REMIND THECHINESE THAT A REPLY TO THE EMBASSY'S REPRESENTATIONS ON THE QUESTION OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ORIGINALLY FROM VIETNAM IS STILL OUTSTANDING (HONG KONG TELEGRAM 220 TO YOU). YOU MAY DRAW AS NECESSARY ON ANYTHING MR LUARD MAY
on
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