TNAG-0905-FCO40-1115-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 100

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TELEGRAM NUMBER 88 OF 4. JUNE, 1979

INFO PRIORITY F.C.0.

INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.

(0)

YOUR TELNO 42: IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA.

1. POLITICAL ADVISER ASKED THE NCNA ABOUT THIS REPORT ON 28 MAY. THEY SAID THEY HAD NO INFORMATION FROM CHINA TO CONFIRM ITS CONTENT, THERE HAD BEEN MANY IDEAS DISCUSSED FOR EXERCISING GREATER CONTROL. A MORE CENTRALISED SYSTEM FOR APPROVAL WAS ONE OF THEM, THEY THOUGHT THAT THE MING BAO REPORT, IN ITS SPECIFIC DETAIL, WAS UNLIKELY TO BE ACCURATE. A BRIEF ACCOUNT IS IN THE BAG.

2. WE KNOW FROM EARLIER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE NCNA THAT THEY THEMSELVES HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDING A MORE CENTRALISED SYSTEM OF CONTROL. ALTHOUGH THE MING BAO DOES SOMETIMES GET ACCURATE ADVANCE INFORMATION ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN CHINA, IT IS ALSO SOMETIMES WIDE OF THE MARK. OUR ASSESSMENT IS THAT MEASURES FOR GREATER CONTROL ARE INDEED BEING DISCUSSED BUT THE ACCURACY OF THE MING BAO REPORT, AND THE SPECIFIC CONNECTION WITH THE N.P.C REMAINS NON PROVEN.

3. THE IMMIGRATION FIGURES WE REPORT REGULARLY AND WHICH WE

USE IN SPEAKING TO THE NCNA COVER ONLY THOSE ENTERING HONG KONG WITHOUT VISAS FOR HONG KONG OR ANOTHER COUNTRY (OR THE EQUIVALENT OF A VISA). THE FIGURES YOU QUOTE FROM THE SCMP ARTICLE INCLUDE THOSE WITH AN ONWARD DESTINATION AND ARE THEREFORE CONSIDERABLY HIGHER.

MACLEHOSE

FICES.

COPIES TO HONG KONG GOUT OFFICE.

LONPON.

HAIGO.

FED

MRCORTA 221 MRMURRAY

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