TNAG-0904-FCO40-1114-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 24

CONFIDENTIAL

BELIEVE THAT THE UNINTERRUPTED RISE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE

YEAR STEMS FROM DEVELOPMENTS IN CHINA 3

A. THE LIBERALISATION OF CONTROLS OVER MOVEMENTS:

B. THE WITHDRAWAL FOR THE VIETNAMESE HOSTILITIES OF REGULAR UNITS (AND SMALL NAVAL CRAFT) HITHERTO ON DUTY ON OR NEAR THE

GRADE RA

C. THE BELIEF THAT LEGAL IMMIGRATION INTO HONG KONG IS BEING

INCREASINGLY RESTRICTED.

5. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE OCCASION FOR THE EXODUS ON 29 MARCH WAS THE WEATHER ON THAT MORNING. THERE WAS THICK MIST AT SEA WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN SEEN BY PEOPLE ALONG THE COAST TO THE EAST AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SLIP UNDETECTED INTO HONG KONG IN JUNKS AND SMALL BOATS. THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR SUCH A CHANCE FOR SOME TIME. IT IS A FACT THAT 90 PERCENT OF THOSE ARRESTED ON THAT DAY

CAME BY SEA.

6. FURTHER DETAILS WILL APPEAR IN THE LIC MARCH ASSESSMENT AND A SUPPLEMENTARY ASSESSMENT ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION WHICH WILL FOLLOW

SHORTLY.

7. THESE DEVELOPMENTS PROMPT US TO ASK HOW SOON WE MAY EXPECT, IF NOT A DEFINITIVE REPLY, AT LEAST AN INTERIM RESPONSE TO THE REINFORCEMENT QUESTION RAISED IN OUR TELNOS 351, 352 AND 353 OF

10 MARCH.

MACLEHOSE

FILES HX9GD FED MVD

NEWS.D.

CID

PS

[ SENT BY BAG TO PEKING)

PS/LORD CORONWY ROBERTS

MR CORTAZZL MR STRATTON MR MURRAY

PRAY

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