TNAG-0907-FCO40-1117-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 79

CONFIDENTIAL

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233A

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FM HONG KONG 161140Z NOV 79

DESK OFFICEN

TO PRIORITY F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1623 OF 16 NOVEMBER

INDEX

No

RIMR

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

LONDON

(2:28

MY TELNO 1596: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA.

See 238

1. THE DAILY 24-HOUR ARREST FIGURES OVER THE PAST 4 DAYS TO 0630 LOCAL TODAY HAVE BEEN 304, 88, 198 AND 438. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE

GROWING EVIDENCE OF INCREASED CHINESE DEPLOYMENTS, NUMBERS STILL REMAIN VERY HIGH, PARTICULARLY IN THE DEEP BAY AREA ON THE WEST. THE LATEST FIGURES ARE THE HIGHEST SO FAR THIS MONTH.

2. WE MAINTAIN DAILY CONTACT WITH THE NCNA AND HAVE WARNED THEM THAT AS THE SEA TEMPERATURES DROP THERE WILL PROBABLY BE INCREASED PRESSURE ON THE LAND BORDER.

3. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS RUMOURS, WHICH NCNA HAVE NOT BEEN. ABLE TO CONFIRM, THAT LONGER PERIODS OF DETENTION FOR ARRESTED

OR REPATRIATED ILLEGALS WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON 1 JANUARY. WHETHER TRUE OR NOT SUCH RUMOURS COULD BE CONTRIBUTING TO

THE CONTINUING EXODUS.

4. THE POLITICAL ADVISER WILL BE IN CANTON OVER THE WEEKEND ON HIS WAY TO PEKING AND WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EMPHASISE OUR CONTINUING ANXIETY ABOUT BOTH ILLEGAL AND LEGAL IMMIGRATION.

CATER

FILGS

HKYGD

NEWS.D PS MR Blakee

FED

MR. CORTAZZI

PUSD

MIL MURRAY

CONFIDENTIAL

Copies TO:

Hong Kong GoUTOFFICE

LONDON