TNAG-0907-FCO40-1117-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 76

CONFIDENTAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 170357Z NOV 79

TO ROUTINE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELNO.1625 OF 17 NOVEMBER,

HKK 3411

RECUVIO

10 NOV

DESK OFFICLK INDEX

Π

•

L

236

INFO PEKING, HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON.

1.

234

YOUR TEL NO.957, PARA.1: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA.

UNFORTUNATELY, GIVEN THE APPARENT BREAKDOWN OF NORMAL SOCIAL DISCIPLINE IN SOUTHERN GUANGDONG, SOME FORM OF INCREASED PUNISHMENT FOR ILLEGAL EMIGRATION IS LIKELY TO BE A NECESSARY PART OF ANY CHINESE PACKAGE TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF THE POSSIBLE DANGERS IN TERMS OF PUBLIC OPINION IN THE U.K IF SUCH PUNISHMENT BECAME UNDULY HARSH. WE ALWAYS KEEP

A CAREFUL EYE ON THIS. INEVITABLY WE ARE CAUGHT ON SOMETHING

OF THE MORGAN'S FORK.

2.

WE WOULD OF COURSE NOT WISH TO TRADE LOWER ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AGAINST HIGHER LEGAL IMMIGRATION. THERE IS AN URGENT NEED FOR BOTH TO BE BROUGHT DOWN SUBSTANTIALLY AND RAPIDLY.

CATER

FILES

FED

ARGO

UND

NAD

PSİMR BLAKER ASIAUS

Sの

SIR A DUFF

MR

MR

CORTAZZI

MURRAY

CONFIDENTAL