TNAG-0983-FCO40-1202-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 116

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PS/Mr Blaker

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Sir E Youde HKGD

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HONG KONG: CONTROL OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA

In my minute of 22 May, I asked whether the Secretary of

State approved in principle the contingency plans which the

Governor of Hong Kong had drawn up in order to deal with the

illegal immigration problem there (his letter of 30 April to

Mr Murray). The Secretary of State was content that these

should go ahead.

The

2. Since then draft legislation, which Mr Blaker has seen

and approved, has been agreed by the Executive Council.

Legislative Council has, however, not yet been consulted,

the plans being kept on ice until it should appear that

implementation was unavoidable. Meanwhile, Mr Blaker raised

the question of illegal immigration with the Chinese

Ambassador on 17 June.

3. The Governor, while still very conscious of the penalties

of putting the measures into effect, has reported (Hong Kong

telegram No.868) his view that the situation has deterior-

ated in terms both of public opinion in Hong Kong and of the

likely social and economic effects of immigration, with a

recession in the offing. Mr Blaker discussed the matter

with the Governor on 14 July. Sir Murray is reluctant to

delay action for too long in view of the Executive Council's

recommendation that implementation should be tentatively

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/planned