4.
CONFIDENTIAL
6.
The Governor of Hong Kong confirmed that the problem of illegal immigration into the Colony from China was much diminished. Mr Zhiang said that China would not add to Hong Kong's burden. If China decided to take refugees Hong Kong,
would have priority.
7. Mr Zhiang said that the Malaysians had put all their refugees on islands. The Thais in fact had the bigger problem.
As for the United Japan was not a country of immigration.
States, they were parading arguments about the cost and constitutional difficulties preventing them from agreeing
to the establishment of processing centres on their territory.
In any case the United States wanted to take the cream of
Once a
But the
the refugees. Mr Blaker said he could confirm that the Americans did have a real difficulty over their Constitution. refugee had arrived on US territory any self-respecting lawyer could apply for a writ of habeas corpus on his behalf. Mr Zhiang agreed that this was a good effort. Americans were arguing that as the Chinese population was four times as great as that of the United States they should take four times as many refugees. The Chinese answer to that was they would agree to the American proposition when their economy was on a par with the American one.
8.
Mr Blaker said that Lord Carrington would discuss the causes of the problem in his speech. It was a legitimate humanitarian
point. Mr Zhiang agreed.
9.
of
In conclusion Mr Zhiang and Mr Blaker agreed that the positions their two countries were basically similar.
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10.
The meeting ended at 6 pm.
CONFIDENTIAL
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