TNAG-0905-FCO40-1115-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 101

GR 170

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

HKK 341

ill

RAINED IN REGISTRY NO.

11 JUN 1979 OP C

COPY

FM PEKING 010355Z MAY 79

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 42 OF 1 JUNE 79

INFO FCO

IMMIGRATION INTO HONG KONG FROM CHINA

IN

PA

no 1214-6

See (112)

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1. WE WONDER IF YOU HAVE NOTICED A REPORT IN MING BAO OF

27 MAY WHICH WE HAVE SEEN REFERRED TO IN THE SOUTH CHINA

FORNING POST OF 28 MAY UNDER THE HEADING CHINA TO

TIGHTEN UP EXIT CONTROLS'’. IF MING BAO HAS BEEN INFORMED CORRECTLY (AS IS OFTEN THE CASE) THE CHINESE PLAN, IN

CONNECTION WITH THE NEXT NPC, TO ARRANGE FOR ALL EXIT VISAS

TO BE APPROVED CENTRALLY, WHICH SHOULD CERTAINLY LEAD TO A

FURTHER DECLINE IN LEGAL IMMIGRATION WITHOUT UNILATERAL ACTION

ON OUR SIDE.

2. THE SCMP ARTICLE ALSO QUOTES IMIGRATION FIGURES APPARENTLY

03TAINED FROM THE HONG KONG IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES WHICH ARE

NOT CONSISTENT WITH THOSE TRANSMITTED TO US IN HONG KONG

TELNO 572 AND SUBSEQUENT TABLES, IT SPEAKS OF 32,800

IMMIGRANTS ENTERING IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS, WHEREAS WE

CONCLUDED THIS FIGURE SHOULD BE 23,300 AND STATES THE APRIL FIGURES AS 8,621 OR 290 A DAY WHEN WE READ THESE AS 6,789 AND 226 PER DAY. GRATEFUL FOR CLARIFICATION.

7

CRADOCK

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HK & GD (6)

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