TNAG-0983-FCO40-1202-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 57

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WHERE IDENTITY CARDS MUST BE CARRIED. THE NEW MEASURE IS THEREFORE AN EXTENSION OF EXISTING MEASURES, DIFFERENT IN DEGREE RATHER THAN KIND, ALBEIT ONE WHICH WILL AFFECT VERY MANY TIMES MORE PEOPLE. THE POPULATION OF THE PRESENT DESIGNATED AREA IS ONLY 14,000. 6. WE EXPECT THAT THE INCONVENIENCE INHERENT IN THE NEW MEASURE WILL CAUSE SOME GRUMBLING BY THE PUBLIC BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THE

OBVIOUS NECESSITY FOR IT WILL BE REALISED AND THERE WILL BE NO

SERIOUS OUTCRY. IT WILL AFFECT ONLY THOSE NORMALLY RESIDENT

HERE. VISITORS AND TOURISTS ARE NOT COVERED BY THE ORDER ALTHOUGH

THEY WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO CARRY SOME PROOF OF IDENTITY TO SAVE

THEMSELVES INCONVENIENCE IF STOPPED BY A POLICE OFFICER.

7. THE ORDER WHICH WILL BE KNOWN AS THE 'CARRYING OF IDENTITY

CARDS (NEW TERRITORIES AND OUTLYING ISLANDS) ORDER 1980** WILL

COME INTO OPERATION ON 15 SEPTEMBER. THE INTERVENING DAYS WILL ALLOW

ANYONE WITH NO IDENTITY CARD (EITHER THROUGH LOSS OR NON-APPLICATIO

TO MAKE APPLICATION FOR ONE.

8. A PRESS RELEASE WILL BE ISSUED AT 1600 HOURS LOCAL TIME TODAY.

IT WILL BE PITCHED IN LOW KEY WITH THE NEW MEASURE BEING PRESENTED AS AN EXTENSION OF A REQUIREMENT WHICH ALREADY EXISTS MADE NECESSARY

BY THE CONTINUING HIGH LEVEL OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

9. THIS STEP IS BEING TAKEN INDEPENDENTLY OF THE CONTINGENCY PLAN WE HAVE FOR THE RETURN OF EVADERS TO CHINA WHICH PROVIDES, INTER ALIA, FOR THE OBLIGATORY CARRYING OF IDENTITY CARDS IN THE WHOLE OF THE TERRIROTY (YOUR TELEGRAM NO 2 FROM CARACAS). THE PRESENT MEASURE DOES NOT CONFLICT WITH THE CONTINGENCY PLAN NOR DOES IT

COMMIT US TO ITS IMPLEMENTATION. IT REPRESENTS HOWEVER A STEP TOWARDS IT AND WILL PROVIDE USEFUL EXPERIENCE IN ENFORCEMENT AND

AN INDICATION OF PUBLIC REACTION TO MORE FAR REACHING CONTROLS.

ENDS,

MACLEHOSE

LIMITED

HK & GD (4)

FED

SIR E YOUDE

MR DONALD

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