TNAG-0906-FCO40-1116-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 165

G.F. 316

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United Front

12.

Athletes from Hong Kong will not after-all com.pete in the Chinese National Games to be held in Peking in September (para. 10 June Assessment). The compromise agreed upon, in order to avoid controversy, is that the five athletes concerned will confine their activity to joining in the training programmes of the Chinese participants.

TRADE UNIONS AND LABOUR

13. The employees of the Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company (HAECO), who are responsible for the vital function of maintaining and servicing all civil aircraft arriving in Hong Kong, began a "work to rule" to enforce demands for an improved pay offer. This was called off after ten days, when a compromise offer of 17% was accepted. Air services were not disrupted. During the month, three major utility companies providing electricity and gas, granted increases to their staff of between 9 percent and 11 percent.

SOVIET BLOC

14. The two Soviet Marine Superintendents (para, 27 of May Assessment) arrived in Hong Kong on 15 July having been granted visas initially for three months. They are to supervise repairs to be carried out to Soviet vessels by Hong Kong United Dockyards.

(See also separate assessments attached)

IMMIGRATION

From China

15. The daily average of the numbers arriving legally but without onward visas fell again, though only slightly; the figure for July was 159 as against 167 in June. The trends in the daily totals over the last two months suggest that the Chinese authorities are content that the numbers should stabilize at about this level.

16.

617 illegal immigrants were arrested during the month, the lowest monthly figure since August 1978. The daily average for the month was 20, but in the last week there was a rise, with daily totals of about 33.

17.

There are some signs that the intensive counter-measures adopted by the Chinese from mid-June onwards have been slightly relaxed but it is too soon to assess the extent of this and its effect on the longer term level of illegal immigration.

/From Macau

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