Lantau were unable to pick them up quickly enough on their radar sets. He would like to propose as an idea for consideration that
one of our vessels, either Police or Naval, should be stationed about
3 miles west of Lantau. Their only purpose would be to deploy their radar and no attempt would be made to stop vessels outside Hong Kong's boundary. Such a vessel would only be on station for about 10 nights
per month.
It would be possible for a Chinese security vessel to be stationed alongside or have Public Security Bureau officials to be on board our vessel. He was putting this forward as an idea for discussion. In response to a question he said that no specific location had yet been suggested. Mr Li said that he would raise this suggestion with the authorities in Guangdong. The problem of illegal immigration was common to both sides.
Illegal Immigration from China
8.
Dr Wilson said we were increasingly concerned at the steady rise in the number of illegal immigrants despite all the measures taken by both sides. He passed monthly statistics from January showing that on average 276 illegals were being repatriated in the first 9 days of June, compared with 131 in January. Arrests over the past 3 days had been even higher, over 300 a day. Mr Li said that the Chinese side were also concened about this problem, but he accepted that in Hong Kong the concern was even greater.
Vietnamese Refugees via China
9.
Dr Wilson said that the renewed outflow of Vietnamese refugees from places where they had been settled in China required urgent action. The only solution would be for more repatriations to be agreed very soon. This problem had also been discussed by the British Embassy in Peking. He passed over a note giving details of the latest arrivals, all of which had originally headed for Macau, which was being exploited as a loophole. Mr Li said that all the material already given to the NCNA had been passed to the authorities in Guangdong. Originally the issue had been dealt with in Peking but detailed arrangements had to be made with the authorities in Guangdong and other provinces where the refugees had been settled. He agreed
CONFIDENTIAL.
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