TNAG-0847-FCO40-1057-Visits-of-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-th-1979 — Page 58

SECRETARY

CONFIDENTIAL HASO

119/6

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

bhats

es/us

Mr Quam MAIN BUILDING WHITEHALL LONDON

Telephone 01-xxx 218 2111/3

OF

STATE

CONFIDENTIAL

Za

-1/0

J19.6

MO 25/8

HERO26/14

+

RECEIVED I no 2071 130.

2 0 JUN 1979

ICER

PA

ви

37

Ps/fre M. Certami Maluma

Actio

MP M

RECORD OF A DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCEL AND

AND THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG IN

THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE ON 14th JUNE 1979

AT 4 pm

Present:

The Rt Hon Francis Pym MC MP

Secretary of State for Defence

Mr M E Quinlan

DUS (P)

Mr R L L Facer

PS/Secretary of State

Sir Murray Maclehose

Governor of Hong Kong

Dr David Wilson

Political Adviser

18/

1. Sir Murray Maclehose said that the Hong Kong Garrison was now at full stretch. In the view of his military advisers, which was supported during a recent visit by Director of Military Operations, General Farndale, the reinforcements requested were the minimum necessary. To restrict illegal immigration it was necessary to guard the whole perimder of the Colony. In the view of Commander British Forces the present level of activity could not be kept up beyond September without reinforcement. If reinforcements were not sent now, reinforcements on an altogether larger scale would be required in September.

2. The Secretary of State asked whether the problem was made worse by the influx of Vietnam refugees: did they create a climate which encouraged illegal immigration from China? Sir Murray Maclehose said that the two problems were separate. The cause of the high level of illegal immigration was the uncertain situation in China. The last big wave of immigration had occurred in 1962 after the Great Leap Forward. When the party line changed, Chinese officials were not anxious to take firm decisions and the people were uncertain about the future course of Government actions. In any case increased restrictions

MAL

CONFIDENTIAL

/were