TNAG-0842-FCO40-1051-Visit-of-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-Chi-1979 — Page 11

CONFIDENTIAL

still 3 times as high as Hong Kong can comfortably absorb. There

is also a serious problem with illegal immigrants from China.

Over 30,000 are believed to have arrived in 1978.

This year

already the figure is probably at least twice that. On the Hong Kong side, measures are being taken to intensify border

surveillance. We have pressed the Chinese to tighten controls

on their side.

CHINA/SOVIET UNION

6. When the Chinese abrogated their Friendship Treaty with

the Soviet Union on 3 April, they also put forward a proposal

for negotiations about their bilateral relationship. Both

sides have since shown a further tentative interest in this and

the Russians published the text of an aide memoire dated 4 June

proposing talks in July/August in Moscow.

CONFIDENTIAL