CONFIDENTIAL
3.
effort should be made to stave off the US and Canada
until Lord Carrington's visit at the end of March after
which the submission could be made. A note would be sent to the FCO on this in January for Lord Carrington's pre-visit brief. If the Cabinet were adamant that no more could be accepted at the present monthly rate, Hong Kong should try for an additional quota over a longer period and possibly involving a Bataan type arrangement under which a number of refugees were selected for UK but held in Hong Kong and given schooling until houses were found for them in UK. Against this background, it was essential that Ministers should not be pushed into coming to a negative decision or making negative public, or for that matter private, statements to UNHCR or third country representatives in the interim.
After discussion it was agreed that every
Illegal Immigration
4.
Mr Davies reported that all seemed well so far with one month post Champion arrests estimated at 750. This meant approximately 500 evaders. He felt this was due more to the "no work" message getting through than increased Chinese operations. Dr Wilson, however, was confident that the Chinese were keeping to their word in stepping up preventive measures and broadcasting Hong Kong's change of policy.
CONFIDENTIAL
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