CONFIDENTIAL
3.
(b) Illegal Immigration.
Since 1973 illegal immigrants caught
in the border areas have been repatriated to China
unless there are strong compassionate grounds to allow
them to stay (there is no evidence that they are treated
unduly harshly when they return). Those who succeed in reaching the urban areas (about four times the number of
those caught) are allowed to stay and are given Hong Kong
documents when they eventually surface. The policy of
repatriation proved an effective deterrent until last
year when the numbers rose sharply, probably because
greater freedom of movement inside China made it easier
for more people to get to the border areas. In 1978
more than 8,000 people were arrested at the border and
returned to China; around 33,000 evaded detection and
have now been admitted permanently to Hong Kong.
The numbers of illegal immigrants have continued to rise
alarmingly this year: nearly 11,000 were caught and
repatriated in the first 3 months and a further 8,000
in April.
Immigration on this scale places a very heavy burden on
Hong Kong social services, especially public housing. The cooperation
of the Chinese authorities has accordingly been sought in an attempt
to bring down the numbers. The matter has been raised in Hong Kong
and Peking, and at ministerial level in London. The Chinese have
reacted sympathetically but there has so far been very little
improvement. Most recently, the Governor of Hong Kong raised the subject with Vice Premier Deng Xiapping and other Chinese leaders
CONFIDENTIAL
2.
/during his
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