TNAG-0904-FCO40-1114-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 83

GRS 139

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

HKR. 3u/

51

22 FEB 1979

en

224

(37

FM PEKING 200835Z FEB 79

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 238 OF 20 FEB

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG AND PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON

HONG KONG TELNO 235: IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA

1. I AGREE WITH THE REVISED FORM OF APPROACH. POINT (Vi), IN SPEAKING OF THE POLICING OF TEMPORARY VISITS, MAY GIVE A HOSTAGE TO FORTUNE OVER THE RETURNING OF OVER-STAYERS, BUT THIS IS A

POINT FOR HONG KONG TO MAKE?

24

SO FAR AS THE SINO-VIETNAMESE SITUATION IS CONCERNED, IT IS REALLY TO SCON TO JUDGE WHETHER ACTION ON THE BORDER WILL INCREASE-

THE FLOW OF PEOPLE LEAVING EITHER VIETNAM OR SOUTHERN CHINA. THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES COULD BECOME MORE PRICKLY. BUT MUCH WILL DEPEND ON WHETHER THEY TRY TO SIT IT OUT IN VIETNAM, OR RETURN RAPIDLY AFTER 'PUNISHING THE AGGRESSORS'’. THE TIMING OF THE DEMARCHE IS NOT IDEAL, BUT I DO NOT RECOMMEND AGAINST IT.

CRADOCK

FILES

COPIES TO

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

LONDON

ROBERTS

MR. BURLEIGH

PS/LORD GORONWY

HK & GD

PS

UND

SEAD

FIED

SAD

rs/PUS

EID (E)

PUSD

OID

IPD

NEWS D MVD

PS/MR LUARD

SIR A CUFF

SIR A PARSONS

MR CORTAZZI

MR LEART

MR MURRAY

HOME OFFICE

QUEEN ANNE'S GATE

MR BIRT

CONFIDENTIAL

HOME OFFICE

LUNAR HOUSE CROYDON