GR 488
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 070945Z MAR 79
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
CONFIDENTIAL
TELEGRAM NUMBER 343 OF 7 MARCH
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
(38
TOF COPY
AKK 341!.!..
· 9 MAR 1979
NO
No
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
37
(36)
CHINA
MY TELNO 335 AND PEKING TELNO 235: LEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA,
1. PEKING PARA 2: IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET ON RECORD THE MECHANICS WE ENVISAGE FOR GENUINE VISITORS, SINCE THESE WOULD EVENTUALLY REMOVE FROM THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS AT A TIME WHEN LIBERALISATION OF MOVEMENT IS DECLARED GOVERNMENT POLICY. I THINK WE ARE AGREED THAT
THE CHINESE WOULD PREFER TO PUT THE BLAME ON HONG KONG FOR ANY
RESTRICTIONS ON TRAVEL.
2. TO A CERTAIN EXTENT THIS ALSO MEETS CRADOCK'S PARÀ 3, SINCE TEMPORARY VISITORS WILL BE FAR MORE NUMEROUS THAN ONE-WAY TRAVELLERS AND WE PROPOSE THAT THE ENTRY OF THE FORMER WILL BE CONTROLLED BY WHAT ARE IN EFFECT PERMITS ISSUED BY THE HONG KONG
GOVERNMENT.
3. DESPITE ALL THE DIFFICULTIES (AND THEY ARE GREAT), I DO NOT RULE OUT ADOPTING A SYSTEM OF HONG KONG ENTRY PERMITS FOR POTENTIAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS (AS OPPOSED TO GENUINE VISITORS) IF THE CHINESE MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS WHAT THEY WOULD PREFER. I AM PROPARED TO TEST THIS BY SAYING TO THE CHINESE THAT WE WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP THEM BRING NUMBERS UNDER CONTROL BY ISSUING LIMITED GUARANTEE OF ENTRY PERMITS AND MOVING TO A SYSTEM UNDER WHICH ENTRY WOULD BE RESTRICTED TO THOSE HOLDING BOTH HONG KONG ENTRY CERTIFICATES AND CHINESE EXIT PERMITS, SHOULD THEY PICK UP THIS IDEA DETAILS COULD BE FURTHER DISCUSSED: WE MIGHT HAVE TO PHASE IN THE SCHEME OVER A PERIOD OF MONTHS.
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN RETAINED
IN THE DEPARTMENT UNDER
SECTION 3 (4) OF THE . PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 1958
CONFIDENTIAL
/4.MEANWHILE
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