CONFIDENTIAL # Z
機密
XCCI(79)7
Comment
Refugees from Vietnam
There is no immediate prospect of the number of refugees from Vietnam declining despite efforts by the UNHCR to arrange with the Vietnamese direct legal departure. The solution to the problem must be international. We are already pressing H.M.G., UNHCR and individual countries, particularly the United States, to increase and speed up resettlement.
Immigration from China
2
The numbers of legal immigrants from China are being reduced slowly as a result of pressure by us and official action by the Chinese. But the rate of reduction is slow. Furthermore, it is more than offset by the increase in illegal immigration,
3
Chinese official action to reduce the flow of legals is hampered by the relatively recent introduction of a policy of freer movement and of a more liberal system of controls in general. The imminent meeting of the National People's Congress provides a further alibi for delaying direct talks to deal with the problem.
4
The problem we face is two-fold: reducing the number of legal entrants and at the same time getting the Chinese to exercise greater control over illegals. If we take no further action ourselves on legals, except for maintaining pressure on the Chinese authorities, the numbers will probably continue to drop; they might reach the level of about 100 per day by the end of the year. To reduce the rate more quickly and more drastically, our only alternative option is to impose a quota. This has some obvious drawbacks.
5
To reduce the number of illegals, we could increases even further our own security measures and, more important, press the Chinese to do more. A further option would be to abandon the existing policy of registering those who enter illegally. This too has obvious drawbacks.
28th May 1979
COUNCIL CHAMBER
C.S. 166
CONFIDENTIAL #
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