TNAG-0904-FCO40-1114-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 79

CONFIDENTIAL

3. THERE ARE SIGNS' THAT THE USE OF IMMIGRATION APPLICATION FORMS IS BECOMING MORE WIDELY USED. IMMIGRATION DEPT, HONG KONG, HAVE SENT OUT LARGE NUMBERS OF THESE FORMS DIRECTLY AND THROUGH HONG KONG SPONSORS TO PROSPECTIVE IMMIGRANTS INTO HONG KONG. WE HAVE RECEIVED SOME COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS HERE AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT MANY MORE HAVE BEEN RETURNED TO IMMIGRATION DEPT. WE WONDER IF THE CHINESE ARE NOT SIGNALLING THAT THE USE OF THIS ENTRY PERMIT PROCEDURE WOULD PROVIDE A SATISFACTORY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF LIMITING NUMBERS. THE CHINESE WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY PREFER IT TO A RESTRICTION OF NUMBERS AT THE BORDER WITH THE ATTENDANT PHYSICAL CONTROL PROBLEMS FOR THE CHINESE AND THE EVENTUAL UNDESIRABLE NECESSITY FOR THEM TO EXEROCCISE CONTROL OVER WHO SHOULD BE ALLOWED INTO HONG KONG.

4t

I WONDER WHETHER THE POLITICAL ADVISER MIGHT APPROACH NCNA ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES:

IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE NUMBER ENTERING HONG KONG BE LIMITED. WE HAVE NOTED THE REFERENCE IN THE WEN WEI PO ARTICLE TO RESTRIC- TIONS IMPOSED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. AT THE MOMENT SUCH BUT THE TIME IS COMING RESTRICTIONS, DO NOT, OF COURSE EXIST. WHEN SUCH RESTRICTIONS WILL BE INEVITABLE UNLESS SOMETHING IS DONE BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES. ENTRY APPLICATION FORMS ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED TO RESIDENTS OF THE PRC WHO WISH TO TRAVEL TO LNG KONG. WE SHOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE APPLICATION FORMS REACH ALL INTENDING TRAVELLERS, AND WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF ASSISTANCE COULD BE GIVEN OVER THIS, PERHAPS THROUGH THE LOCAL

WE WOULD ALSO BE OFFICES OF THE PUBLIC SECURITY BUREAUX. GRATEFUL IF THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES WOULD NOT ISSUE EXIT PERMITS UNTIL SUCH APPLICATIONS HAD BEEN APPROVED.

THIS WOULD ENABLE THE

HONG KONG AUTHORITIES TO CONTROL THE RATE AT WHICH IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA ENTERED THE TERRITORY, THE OFFICIAL OF THE GUANGDONG OVERSEAS CHINESE AFFAIRS OFFICE HAS LISTED THOSE CATEGORIES OF APPLICANT

THESE CORRESPOND TO WHOSE APPLICATIONS PRIORITY WOULD BE GIVEN. CLOSELY WITH THE CRITERIA THAT IMMIGRATION DEPT WOULD APPLY IN APPROVING APPLICATIONS, AND THIS THEREFORE SEEMS TO BE A MUTUALLY CONVENIENT METHOD OF CONTROLLING NUMBERS.

2

CONFIDENTIAL

/5. THE