TNAG-0981-FCO40-1200-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 170

CONFIDENTIAL

5. POLITICAL ADVISER WILL SPEAK TO NCNA ON MONDAY ABOUT IMMIGRATION, AFTER REVIEWING THE FIGURES FOR LAST YEAR HE WILL EXPRESS SATISFACTION THAT THIS MONTH THE NUMBERS OF ILLEGALS

ARE AT LAST GOING DOWN, COUPLED WITH THE HOPE THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO RISE AGAIN AS THEY DID LAST YEAR. COMMENTING THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR FIRMER MEASURES ON THE CHINESE SIDE HE WILL ADD THAT WE EXPECT THE CHINESE ALSO TO BEAR IN MIND THE DIFFICULTIES FOR US IN CARRYING OUT THE REPATRIATION POLICY IF PUNISHMENT IS SEEN TO BE UNDULY HARSH. HE WILL THEN EXPRESS CONCERN THAT THE NUMBER OF LEGAL ENTRANTS HAS STILL NOT DROPPED, DESPITE THE ASSURANCES GIVEN BY HUANG HUA TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE ON 2 NOVEMBER (YOUR TELNO 929 NOT TO ALL). HE WILL ASK WHEN WE MAY EXPECT TO SEE THE PRACTICAL EFFECT OF THESE ASSURANCES.

NIT

6. UNLESS YOU SEE OBJECTION I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF PEKING COULD

SPEAK ON SIMILAR LINES TO THE FOREIGN MINISTRY. THEY MIGHT HOWEVER, OMIT THE POINT ABOUT PUNISHMENT WHICH IS MORE

APPROPRIATE FOR LOCAL CONTACTS.

CATER

PILE S: H K & G D

FED

FUSD

OID

NEWS D

IS/MR BLAKER FR CORTAZZI MR MURRAY

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CONFIDENTIAL

COPIES TO:

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE

LONDON