TNAG-0906-FCO40-1116-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 94

FCC/CAB 005/09

PP CABINET OFFICE

GR 1760

SECRET

FM HONG KONG 0906312 OCT

In the have

・Yes, have seen

197A

Qu 3 NIO

15/x

No Williamson has obtained this from the Cabinet Office - I do not know if you send it when came in. It is ver unnd on the lines that one

it fist might anticipate

+

CS.E. Chantill

HKK 34|||

TO PRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH CFFICE TELEGRAM NUMBER 1394 CF 9 OCTOBER, 1979.

FOR SECRETARY J.1.C. FROM SECRETARY LIC.

M.I.P.T. - UP-DATING CF JIC PAFER THE THREAT TO HONG KONG'' (JIC (78)9 OF 29 AUGUST, 1978).

ILLEGAL

MICRATION:

12/60

1. AFTER SEVERAL YEARS AT RELATIVELY LOW LEVEL ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA BECAN RISING IN 1976. COFAS A COPY FIGURES ARE:-

THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN EVAJERS (ESTIMATE LOSED UNTIL

ARRESTS

1977

1,815

1978

8,205

1973 (UP TO

30 SEPTEMBER)

54,072

6,600 27,600.

77,500.

UNDER FOI EXEMPTION NO 27 a c & d

IN THE FIRST FORTNIGHT IN JUNE THE INFLOW REACHED A PEAK WITH AN AVERAGE OF 625 ARRESTS PER DAY, GOVERNMENT POLICY IS TO REPATRIATE THOSE APPREHENDED ON ARRIVAL BUT TO ALLOW THOSE TO REMAIN WHO HAVE STABLISHED CONTACT WITH THEIR FAMILY OR FRIENDS AND OBTAINED OR REACHED FROPER ACCOMMODATION.

REASONS FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION:

2. THE NEW INFLUX CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO A NUMBER OF FACTORS. THE MOST IMPORTANT IS THE CHANCED POLITICAL CLIMATE IN CHINA WHICH HAS PERMITTED GREATER FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND GREATER CONTACT WITH THE CUTSIDE WORLD. IN GUANGDONG PROVINCE, WHERE VIRTUALLY ALL THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS COME FROM, (DISCUSSED IN MORE DETAIL IN PARAGRAPH 8 BELOW) KNOWLEDGE OF THE SITUATION CUTSIDE CHINA HAS BEEN HEIGHTENED THROUGH THE GREATLY INCREASED FLOW OF VISITORS FROM HONG KONG WHO BRING WITH THEM LARGE QUANTITIES OF CONSUMER DURABLES'' AS GIFTS, AND TELL STORIES OF THE BETTER LIFE ACROSS THE BORDER. TELEVISION SETS AND RADIC FORM A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF THESE GIFTS: WATCHING PROGRAMMES FROM HONG KONG ADDS TO THE PICTURE OF THE GRASS BEING GREENER CN THE OTHER SIDE. WE HAVE NO REASON TO 3BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE UNUSUAL PRESSURES SUCH AS FAMINE, OR THE RUMCURS CF IT, PUSHING PEOPLE OUT.