CALL ON MR BLAKER BY THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR [AT 10.30 AM ON 10 JUNE]
HONG KONG
POINTS TO MAKE
GENERAL RELATIONS
1.
Delighted that relations between China, and particularly
Guangdong Province, and Hong Kong are so good. Examples are
Sir Philip Haddon-Cave's recent visit to Peking, Shanghai and
Guangdong, Sir Yuet-keung Kan's mission to Guangdong and the signing
of a long-term water supply agreement.
LEGAL IMMIGRATION
2.
Note that legal arrivals have been kept at around 150 a day
so far this year. Glad there has been no increase but would still
prefer to see a very much lower figure.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
3.
Concerned about number of illegals reaching Hong Kong. Aware
that the Chinese authorities have made considerable efforts and are
already limiting the flow. However, over 27,000 were returned in
the first 5 months, over 8,000 in May. Even if this upward trend
does not continue, Hong Kong might expect 130,000 to 140,000 immigrants
this year.
After over 200,000 last year, this would place serious
strain on Hong Kong's resources and programme to deal with amenities
such as housing, education, health and social services. Hong Kong
Government and HMG have done what they can more troops, more boats,
new border fence, tougher sentences for organisers. If upward
trend continues, particularly with increase in refugees from Vietnam,
at time when seasonal increases are in any case traditional,
situation will become intolerable. We need to discuss together
ways of reducing numbers to manageable levels. The Chinese were
very successful in this in July last year. We need their help again.
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/Return of Legal Visitors and Illegals
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