TNAG-0982-FCO40-1201-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 77

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4.

Both the Governor (Hong Kong telegram No 686) and

Daw

E

95

F

96

F

(96)

4.

HMA Peking (Peking telegram No 372) initially supported the

idea of first broaching the subject in general terms with the

Chinese.

He

In a second telegram however (Hong Kong telegram No 698)

The Governor raises doubts about the form of such an approach.

is concerned lest we give the impression that we think the Chinese

are not trying. This is a fair point but I think that, for

presentational reasons in this country, we shall need to be able

to confirm that, before stringent measures were taken in Hong Kong,

every effort was made a a high level to get the Chinese to cut the

rate of flow. In fact I think that the general approach

suggested in paragraph 3 of Hong Kong telegram No 698 is in any

case the right one. We do not want to carp but to invite discussion

of ways of dealing with a common problem. No mention would be made

to the Chinese at this stage of the Governor's contingency plans

for action in Hong Kong should the situation deteriorate further.

This, as Peking suggest, would require a second approach, probably

only in Hong Kong and Peking, once it became apparent that

implementation was necessary.

5.

The Minister was in any case to have seen the Chinese

Ambassador on UK/PRC Air Services and the two subjects could

usefully be covered together. The brief also covers Hong Kong/

China relations in general which the Minister could touch on.

6.

If Mr Blaker agrees, with the recommendations, he could see

the Chinese Ambassador at 10.30 am on 10 June.

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17.