TNAG-0984-FCO40-1203-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 21

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a prospect of this movement of population being halted. After the very positive response of the leaders in Guangdong on this too

I am alse now satisfied.

Finally, that the people of Hong Kong were so alive

to the danger that traditional hospitality was creating,

that they had come to accept that it must be abandoned

despite the personal problems and inconvenience entailed.

Of all the conditions this is particularly important.

Advice is unanimous that this condition is now met.

Lord Carrington's talks with Vice Premier Huang

Hua in London, my talks in Guangzhou, and the subsequent

advice yesterday of the Executive Council, were the

last links in this long chain of evaluation and consultat ion

which has led to the legislation now before you.

The "reached base" policy has become a tragic charade

in which the illegal immigrant has little to lose and

everything to gain by attempting to run the guantlet of

Chinese and Hong Kong forces, and even if caught has every

incentive to try again. The Chinese accuse us, with some

justification, of applying a policy which positively welcomes

illegal immigrants. If this movement is to stop the potential

illegal emigrant in the commune must be made to realise that

even if he gets through the security cordons, he will not

have reached base and safety, but like an illegal immigrant

anywhere in the world, will be constantly liable to arrest

and return. We propose that this should be the case for

anyone who arrives as from tonight.

But this is not enough. The incentive to beat the