TNAG-0906-FCO40-1116-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 146

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PERMITS. A VERY MARKED REDUCTION WOULD SURELY BE POSSIBLE FERMITS WERE NOT ISSUED TO THOSE CLAIMING TO COME ON VISITS UNLESS

THEY WERE DEMONSTRATIVELY URGENT REASONS FOR THEM TO DO SO. WE HOPED THAT OUR CONFIDENCE IN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CHINESE 'MEASURES

COULD BE BOLSTERED BY A SHARP REDUCTION IN SEPTEMBER 1.E. TO

UNDER 100 A DAY.

4. IF YOU AGREE, I HOPE THAT THE EMBASSY WILL ASLO EMPHASIZE OUR CONCERN. UNLESS THE DOWNWARD TREND IS RESUMED IN SEPTEMBER, WE WILL HAVE TO RECONSIDER THE INTRODUCTION OF DIRECT CONTROLS. I AM OF COURSE RELUCTANT TO DO THIS.

MACLEHOSE

!

FILES

HK & GD (6)

FED

SEAD

COPIES TO:

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

LONDON

UND

MR MURRAY

2

t

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