TNAG-0943-FCO40-1162-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 279

TIAL

J

Op

:

Illegal emigration to Hong Kong. 121

Since both the Hong Kong

Government and the CPG share a common interest in regulating the

flow of Chinese emigration to Hong Kong, both sides have also been

concerned to prevent the illegal movement of Chinese carrying neithe

Hong Kong nor Chinese travel documents. The Chinese have regarded

legal and illegal emigration to Hong Kong as separate matters.

Emigration or attempted emigration from China to Hong Kong by

unauthorised persons has always been considered a serious matter,

by the CPG authorities. The seriousness with which attempts

are viewed and the penalties imposed by the Chinese authorities

have varied over the years according to the prevailing political

climate in China, Although the present regime appears to adopt

a relatively more liberal view, attempts at illegal emigration

continue to be penalised. Individuals found attempting to leave the

country illegally have been punished by "re-education through

labour, fines and imprisonment, In the case of successful attempts

families of the individuals concerned have also been fined. Those

caught organising large-scale emigration routes and procedures

have been tried as criminals and some have been executed.

:

וו'

!

22 In November 1974, agreement, was reached between Hong Kong and

the Guangdong Provincial authorities for the repatriation of

J

[.

illegal immigrants from China arrested on entry to Hong Kong, (this

was, in effect, a resumption of the practice which existed before

1967). The main objective for the Hong Kong Government of

repatriating illegal immigrants from China was to persuade the

Š

Chinese to limit legal immigration into Hong Kong. The Chinese,

r however, insisted that the two aspects of immigration were quite

la distinct.

J

Γ.

123

The number of illegal immigrants from China has shown a dram- atic increase in the last year. In 1977 a total of 1,815 illegal imm-

nina

igrants from China were arrested (1,779 repatriated).

CONFIDENTTAL

In 1978

/there