TNAG-0906-FCO40-1116-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 72

GR 515

CONFIDEN MAL

اهده

Original at: Mek oy@l

This Capy for:

Information only / Action on Pera(s)

203

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 180548Z OCT 79

HKK 341l

TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFF CRECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

TELNO.1451 OF 18 OCTOBER, INFO IMMEDIATE: PEKING,

1 9 OCT 1979

DESK OFFICER INDEX

ROUTINE • HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON.

DONN

MY TELNO.1403: IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA.

198

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

1. WE HAVE CONSIDERED FURTHER METHODS AND CONSEQUENCES OF

IMPOSING UNILATERAL CONTROLS ON LEGAL IMMIGRATION. ALTHOUGH

SUCH A STEP MAY TURN OUT TO BE OUR ONLY OPTION, I DO NOT THINK

THAT WE SHOULD TAKE ANY DECISION ON SUCH A SERIOUS MOVE UNTIL

AFTER WE HAVE SEEN WHAT HUA AND HIS PARTY SAY IN LONDON. 1

WILL NOT THEREFORE GO INTO FURTHER DETAIL AT THIS STAGE.

2.

bee

(204)

205

MEANWHILE, WE HAVE ALSO CONSIDERED WHAT MORE COULD BE DONE, SHORT OF THREATENING CONTROLS, TO BRING HOME TO THE CHINESE THAT THE PROBLEM IS SERIOUS AND IMPLY TO THEM THAT WE ARE CONTEMPLATING

SOMETHING MORE DRASTIC.

3. ONE RELATIVELY SIMPLE MEASURE IS TO SEPARATE AT THE BORDER

BRIDGE NEW ARRIVALS FROM CHINA WITHOUT ONWARD DOCUMENTATION (THE PROBLEM CATEGORY) FROM OTHER TRAVELLERS. THIS COULD BE

DONE BY POSTING IMMIGRATION OFFICERS CLOSE TO THE BORDER LINE,

CHECKING DOCUMENTATION THERE AND DIVIDING PASSENGERS INTO TWO

STREAMS SEMI-COLON ADDITIONAL POLICE WOULD ALSO BE DEPLOYED

ON THE BRIDGE TO HELP WITH CORRALING. TAKING SUCH ACTION WOULD

EMPHASISE OUR INTEREST IN ONE PARTICULAR GROUP OF PASSENGERS AND

PROVIDE SOME, ALBEIT LIMITED, SCOPE FOR ESCALATED MEASURES AGAINST THAT GROUP, E.G BY DELAYING PROCESSING UNTIL OTHER PASSENGERS

ARE DEALT WITH OR ATTEMPTING TO REJECT SOME CONN THE GROUNDS

OF INSUFFICIENT DOCUMENTATION. SUCH A SEPARATION OF SHEEP AND GOATS WOULD ALSO, INCIDENTALLY, BE AN ESSENTIAL FIRST STEP TO UNILATERAL CONTROLS IF IT HAS TO COME TO THAT.

@ONFIDENTAL

14. WE CAN