TNAG-0906-FCO40-1116-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 50

GR 210

CONFIDENTIAL

HKK 3H

RECEIVED BY

212

UNFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 270450Z OCT 79

DESK OFFIULI INDEX

OFFICEO.

TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICI

TELNO.1516 OF 27 OCTOBER,

INFC PRIORITY: PEKING,

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON.

MY TELNO.1496: TMMIGRATION FROM CHINA.

PA

16213

1. THE LATEST FIGURES FOR ARRESTS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SHOW A FURTHER ALARMING JUMP. OVER 1,000 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IN THE PAST TWO DAYS (550 IN THE 24-HOUR PERIOD UP TO Ø600 ON 26 OCTOBER AND 579 IN THE FOLLOWING 24 HOURS). ARREST FIGURES BY MARINE POLICE THIS MORNING SHOW THAT THIS TREND IS CONTINUING OR EVEN ACCELERATING. THE MAJORITY OF

THESE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE ARRIVING BY BOAT IN THE EASTERN WATERS OF THE COLONY FROM THE FOUR COUNTIES TO THE EAST OF HONG KONG.

2.

>

POLITICAL ADVISER HAS-SPOKEN TO NCNA, DRAWING THESE FIGURES TO THEIR ATTENTION AND REQUESTING URGENT ACTION TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. NCNA SAY THAT THEY HAVE BEEN PASSING BACK OUR REPORTS OF ARREST RATES TO CANTON. THEY HAVE RECOMMENDED THAT ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN IMMEDIATELY TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY HAVE SO FAR HAD NO RESPONSE FROM CANTON.

3.

WE WILL REPORT AGAIN AFTER THE WEEKEND.

IF THE FLOOD CONTINUES,

WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO ASK FOR OUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIONS TO BE REINFORCED BY APPROACHES IN PEKING.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HK & GD

FED

SEAD

COPIES TO:

HK & GD

LONDON

UND

PS/MR RIDLEY

MR CORTAZZI

MR MURRAY

CONFIDENTIAL