1591
GR 300
SECRET
FM PEKING 040700Z SEP 80
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
SECRET
TELEGRAM NUMBER 83 OF 4 SEFT 80 INFO FCO
FOR POLITICAL ADVISER FROM HEAD O
146
TOP CO
AKCK 341|1
АКК
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 0 5 SEP 1980
DESK OFFICER
INDEX CHANCERY
No
PA
REGISTRY
ction Taken
117.9 | Awiza
CARACAS TELNO 2 TO HONG KONG : ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
1. WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING THE LINE THE SECRETARY OF STATE MIGHT TAKE ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.
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2. WE NOTE FROM YOUR TELNO 1182 THAT THE SEASONAL RISE IN ARRESTS HAS BEEN STEEP. THE POSITION REMAINS THAT THE CHINESE ARE UNLIKELY TO TAKE MEASURES OF THEIR OWN WHICH WOULD EFFECTIVELY BRING NUMBERS DOWN. WE EXPECT THEM TO CONFIRM WHAT SONG ZHIGUANG MADE CLEAR TO THE AMBASSADOR (OUR TELNO 412 OF 23 JUNE), THAT IMPLEMENTATION OF SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES APPROVED IS IN THE CHINESE VIEW THE BEST WAY FORWARD.
3. IF THE CHINESE DO SAY THIS WE WOULD SEE ADVANTAGE IN LORD CARRINGTON TELLING THEM THAT WE WERE FULLY PREPARED (OR EVEN PROPOSED) TO PUT INTO EFFECT THESE MEASURES, THOUGH HE MIGHT (MIGHT) LEAVE THE TIMING OPEN AND EXPRESS THE HOPE THAT THE MEASURES COULD BE AVOIDED. THIS WOULD BE A POSITIVE STATEMENT, AND SHOULD BE WELL RECEIVED. HE COULD GO ON TO SAY THAT IMPLEMENTATION COULD ONLY BE SUCCESSFUL WITH THE FULL COOPERATION OF THE LOCAL CHINESE AUTHORITIES IN (A) ACCEPTING BACK ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS APPREHENDED UNDER THE BRO ADER SCOPE OF THE NEW POLICY (B) AGREEING TO IMPLEMENT A REALLY RIGOROUS BORDER SURVEILLANCE REGIME AT THE TIME OF ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NEW POLICY TO AVOID ANY LAST MINUTE RUSH OF ESCAPEES AND (C) TO MAINTAIN A CLOSE GUARD ON THE BORDER DURING THE PERIOD FOLLOWING IMPLEMENTATION IN ORDER TO LESSEN THE NUMBERS STILL ENTERING HONG KONG WHO MAY NEED TO BE ARRESTED. THE SUCCESS OF THE POLICY DEPENDS VERY MUCH ON THIS LAST POINT, AND ITS ASSERTION BY LORD CARRINGTON WOULD BE USEFUL FOR FUTURE DISCUSSIONS OF COOPERATION.
4.
IT IS VERY MUCH FOR YOU TO SAY WHETHER THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT.
CRADOCK
see (160
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HAGGD FED PS
PSLPS PSTMR RIDLEY PS PUS SIR.E. YOUDE
SECRET
THIS TELEGRAM
WAS NOT
ADVANCED
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