TNAG-0946-FCO40-1165-Local-Intelligence-Committee-assessment-of-the-political-sit-1980 — Page 14

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

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Page No. 11 of 12 pages

37.

A total of 11,017 illegal immigrants from China were arrested during October, giving a daily average of 355. This compares with September's total of 13,365, with a daily average of 446. The Government announcement on 23 October of the ending of the "reached base" policy did not, as had been thought possible, result in a sudden marked upsurge in the number of immigrants hoping to beat the deadline only 1,569, a daily average of 523, were arrested during the three days special registration period following the announcement. Since then, arrest figures have dropped steeply and in the five days 27 31 October only 394 were arrested (daily average 79). The reasons are believed to be the increased counter-measures

undertaken by the Chinese authorities and the deterrent effect of the new policy or, at least, a cautious tendency on the part of potential emigrants (as observed when there were previous announcements of policy changes on the Chinese side) to wait and see what happens before deciding whether to make new attempts

to leave.

W

From Vietnam

38.

Seven groups totalling 294 refugees reached Hong Kong in October (compared with 288 in September), comprising three motorised vessels (including one from Northern Vietnam), one sailing junk from Northern Vietnam, two groups rescued at sea by merchant ships, and one group of stowaways. No boats carrying persons of Vietnamese origin have arrived from China since August.

LIC Hong Kong November 1980

G.F. 316

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