TNAG-0851-FCO40-1061-Future-of-Hong-Kong-New-Territories-leases-1979 — Page 61

CONFIDENTIAL

Record of conversation at a dinner at Government House on 1 November 1979

Present:

HE the Governor

Mr Li Fook-kow (SHA)

Mr D Akers-Jones (SNT) Dr D C Wilson (PA) Mr IC Orr (APA)

Mr Wang Kuang (1st Director

NCNA)

Mr Li Jusheng (2nd Director

NCNA)

Mr Tan Gan Mr Li Ruohe

Immigration

1.

The Governor said that he hoped the dinner would give an opportunity to exchange views with Mr Wang on a number of mutually important topics. Relations between Britain and China, including relations over Hong Kong, were good and this was symbolized by the visit being paid by Premier Hua to the UK.

2.

On specific topics, he suggested starting with immigration. The numbers arriving both legally and illegally were extremely worrying. It was of particular concern that the flood of illegals had resumed after we had optimistically hoped in July that this aspect of the problem had been brought under control. What explanation was there for the breakdown in control? Mr Wang said that he would ask Mr Li Jusheng to comment. Mr Li then said that the Chinese side were disappointed in the figures, especially as this coincided with Premier Hua's visit to the UK. He could give an assurance that numbers would come down sharply in the next few days. New measures had been taken two days before and an extra regiment had been deployed so that there would now be one to the west and one to the east.

3.

After expressing gratitude for this assurance, the Governor said that the arrangements made for dealing with illegals on the Chinese side were of course a matter for the Chinese Government. It was therefore with some diffidence that he wished to ask whether consideration had been given to moving those who had made several attempts to areas far more distant from Hong Kong. The problem was a long term one; this might be the only really effective way to discourage people who were breaking the laws both of China and of Hong Kong.

4.

Mr Li said that, just as the Governor had difficulty in understanding some aspects of Chinese policy on immigration, he had difficulty in understanding why Hong Kong gave a legal right to stay to people who evaded arrest. The Governor replied that he was sure that Mr Li knew from his discussions with the Political Adviser that tracking down people who had evaded arrest was not simply a practical problem: if attempts were made forcibly to take people away from families they had joined in Hong Kong, this would attract great attention internationally