TNAG-0983-FCO40-1202-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 101

CONFIDENTIAL

151

布政司署

港下亞厘畢道

*** OUR REF.: (62) in SCR 7/1486/77 III

(23) in SCR 30/2091/72

* YOUR Ref.:

R. D. Clift, Esq.

GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD

HONG KONG

Auto

Bu toter Custor.

AKK 341|1

НКК

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 5.1

7th August, 1980

12 AUG 1980 ill & 11.9

Hong Kong and General DP OFFICER Foreign and Commonwealex OfficePA London SW1A 2AH

ENGLAND

REGISTRY Action Taken

Identif cat din and

>

int the clipb sed.

Mo J27.8 AW7/8

activr

see out.

For 1/8

Dear Dide.

Illegal Immigration from China to Hong Kong

We feel that the record of the discussion between Mr. Blaker and Sir Murray on the 14th July may have suffered from an attempt to compress it and therefore we would like to amplify or comment on some of the points which were made.

2.

The second sentence of paragraph 2 would be improved if it was reworded to the effect that "the Governor said that although these were not apparent yet, there was no question but that a recession was coming which would affect employment prospects".

3.

The last sentence of paragraph 3 is misleading. There are several aspects which need to be brought out. So far as the timing of the introduction of Operation Champion is concerned it is true that the size of the garrison and in particular whether the reinforcement battalion now promised for mid-September is here or not is not too relevant. CBF agrees that HM Forces can adjust their deployment for the pre-implementation period in accordance with our requirements. Precisely how this is done will depend on the exact dates chosen and may vary if there is an unwelcome rush of illegals trying to beat the date.

4.

The

The phrase "better trained to do the work" mystifies us. Services are reasonably well balanced now to cope with the continuing large numbers and this in turn means they can devote time to catching up on IS training. Bearing this in mind the Forces are reasonably well able to keep the present flow in check.

5. So far as the overall size of the permanent garrison is concerned the need for the fifth battalion as a permanent increase remains as set out in the Joint Study produced in Hong Kong last autumn and confirmed by the Chiefs of Staff in June. This garrison is required to discharge

the role of the armed Forces bearing in mind the threat, the increased population and the development of the new towns in the 1980s.

CONFIDENTIAL