GR 530
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING 1008457 OCT 79
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK341
RECEIVED #210MEY NO. 1
TO IMMEDIATE FCO-
TELEGRAM NUMBER 925′ OF 19 OCTOBER 79
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
DESK OF LEN
INDEX
Mo
A
PA.
LAGISTRY
Action Taken
205
HONG KONG TELNO 1451 TO FCO: IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA
1
1. WHILST AGREEING THAT THE LEVEL OF LEGAL IMMIGRATION IS
STILL TOO HIGH, I THINK WE CAN STILL HOPE TO PERSUADE THE
CHINESE TO BRING ABOUT FURTHER REDUCTIONS WITHOUT IMPOSING
UNILATERAL CONTROLS. ALTHOUGH IT IS TRUE THAT THERE WAS NO
NET REDUCTION FROM JUNE THROUGH SEPTEMBER, THE CHINESE HAD SUCCEEDED BY THEN IN HALVING THE RATE AT THE END OF LAST YEAR,
AND I NOTE THAT THE DOWNWARD TREND HAS BEEN PICKED UP AGAIN IN THE FIRST FORTNIGHT OF OCTOBER. WE CAN ALSO EXPECT THAT
HUA WILL INSIST ON SOME FURTHER REDUCTION IN RESPONSE TO
THE REPRESENTATIONS THAT WILL BE MADE TO HIM IN LONDON.
2. IT HAS BEEN INTIMATED TO US THAT THE CHINESE WILL BE
PREPARED TO ACCEPT BACK PASSPORT HOLDERS WITHOUT ONWARD
VISAS (SEE MIFT). IF THIS MEANS THAT NUMBERS ARE GOING TO
COME DOWN CLOSER TO 100 PER DAY, WE ARE NOT THAT FAR OFF
THE DESIRED LEVEL, AND MIGHT BEGIN TO DISCUSS WITH THE
CHINESE WAYS OF ENSURING THAT VISITORS, AS OPPOSED TO IMMIGRANTS, TO HONG KONG DID IN FACT RETURN TO CHINA. (EMIGRANTS HOLDING PINK PERMITS FORM AFTER ALL A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF BORDER CROSSERS)
Ax (206A)
3. NEVERTHELESS, I WOULD NOT WISH TO OPPOSE THE MEASURES SUGGESTED IN PARAS 3-5 OF TUR: SOMETHING ALONG THESE LINES WILL PRESUMABLY BE NECESSARY IN ANY CASE IF WE ARE TO START
RETURNING SOME PASSPORT HOLDERS. AS HONG KONG ARGUE, THIS
WILL BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENT WITHOUT EFFECT ON THE
CHINESE SIDE. THE TIMING IS NOT IDEAL COMING AS IT DOES IMMEDIATELY BEFORE HUA'S VISIT. BUT THIS IS BETTER THAN JUST
AFTERWARDS WHEN IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO TAKE ANY ACTION
THAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED PROVOCATIVE FOR A WHILE AFTER
IMPROVEMENTS ARE PROMISED.
200
20
207
(208)
CONFIDENTIAL
/3.THERE
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