CONFIDENTIAL
DSR 11C
there was a large increase in the number of illegal immigrants, bringing the total for the year of those arrested to 8,205 (8,123 repatriated). However, the numbers were rapidly escalating. Between 1 January 1979 and 25 June a staggering total of 44,928 Chinese illegal immigrants were arrested and repatriated by the Hong Kong authorities. Despite some initial hesitation on the part of the Chinese authorities to accede to the Hong Kong Government's urgent requests for tougher measures to halt the exodus from China, the Chinese have now apparently recognised the overall seriousness of the situation in Hong Kong and have strengthened their efforts to apprehend those attempting to leave China illegally. The Guangdong Provincial Revolutionary Committee recently issued a strongly-worded warning to potential illegal emigrants. The warning, broadcast by Guangzhou radio on 16 June, said in part:
"All people who want to leave the country must get approval and leave the country at designated points, with exit permits All checkpoints, public security organs and PLA units must resolutely stop people who sneak across the border or enter the border region without papers, and in accordance with our policies must accept,) educate and send back to their own places those people who sneak across the border to foreign countries."
It is interesting that this notice includes the clear implication that movement across the border from Guangdong to Hong Kong is to a "foreign country".
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China's
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