TNAG-0908-FCO40-1118-Legislation-for-immigration-into-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 209

CONFIDENTIAL

(C) WE SHALL TRY TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE WORDING FOR "PROHIBITED

IMMIGRANT' (OR OTHEWRWISE THIS TERM MIGHT.IMPLY A CHANGE IN OUR EXISTING POLICY BY WHICH WE EVENTUALLY ALLOW VIETNAMESE

REFUGEES TO LAND IN HONG KONG),

CIDED

(D) TIMING. IT WAS DECIDED IT WOULD BE BETTER NOT TO PUBLISH

OR PUBLICISE A BILL OF THIS SORT WHICH WOULD BE BOUND TO AROUSE PRESS SPECULATION IN THE IMMEDIATE RUN UP TO THE GENEVA

CONFERENCE.

3. IT WAS DECIDED THAT THESE POINTS WOULD BE FURTHER CONSIDERED AND A REVISED BILL SHOULD BE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL ON THE 17TH JULY. (WE WILL ADVISE YOU OF ANY AMENDMENTS). THEREAFTER ONCE THE BILL IS AGREED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WE PROPOSE TO DISCUSS IT WITH UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PRIOR TO GAZETTING ON THE 27TH JULY AND TO TAKE ALL ITS STAGES IN ONE MEETING OF THE

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON THE 1ST AUGUST.

4. WE WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD LET US HAVE ANY COMMENTS YOU MAY HAVE ON THE BILL SO THAT THEY CAN BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN PRODUCING THE SECOND DRAFT WHICH WE PROPOSE TO CIRCULATE TO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ON THE 12TH JULY.

MACLEHOSE

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FILES

HK & GD (6)

NTD

MVD

SPD

SED

WIAD

M AND C D

S AM D

MR CORTAZZI

MR FIGG MR MURRAY

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CONFIDENTIAL

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