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was now proposed would meet Chinese requirements. On legal immigrants,
Mr Li Jusheng said that from 15 October measures would be taken to
reduce the validity of exit permits allowing people to visit Hong Kong
in general to 3 months with longer in exceptional circumstances. In November the results of this change would start to become apparent.
The Governor said that what was important was to reduce numbers.
At present there were about 150 legals a day. There had always been
legal immigrants but for long periods in the past this had averaged
50 a day. Mr Wang said that there had also been periods in the past
when there had been complete freedom of movement and no controls on
numbers. The Governor said that it would be difficult to take action
against both illegals and legal over-stayers at the same time. However,
if legal immigrants came for a shorter period this would help. Mr Wang
commented that Hong Kong received hundreds of thousands of tourists a
year. Visitors from China would be no problem. Difficulties had arisen
because of delays in some cases people had had to wait so long for
permission to visit sick relatives in Hong Kong that by the time they
arrived the relatives had died. The Governor later said that the
immediate problem was to deal with illegal immigration. This would
require a major effort. He would like to revert to the question of how to deal with legal immigration, and ensuring that visitors returned, after a few months. Mr Wang said he understood.
Effects of television
9.
Dr Wilson
Mr Wang mentioned the profound effect which Hong Kong television
had in encouraging people to leave China for Hong Kong. He had
experience of propaganda work as had his wife of broadcasting.
said that it was a pity that it was not technically possible to beam
television programmes so that they were only seen in Hong Kong. Programmes
did not, however, show a uniformly rosy picture of Hong Kong. They also
showed the difficulties which people encountered in making a living in
Hong Kong. Mr Li Jusheng commented that what affected people were the
advertisements for drinks and cigarettes. It was also a problem that
the standards of Hong Kong television programmes was high. Dr Wilson said that personally he did not find the standard very high.
Attitudes towards Hong Kong
10.
The Governor asked whether Mr Wang and Mr Li had given speeches
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