TNAG-0984-FCO40-1203-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 229

4.

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Legislation will have to be introduced in Hong Kong making

it an offence not to carry an Identity Card at all times in public

and to employ anyone who does not possess such a card.

A Cus

встья

C (194

B

D

C

165

5.

194

Ministers agreed that it should be brought into effect by

was later

This

about the end of October (APS/Mr Blaker's minute of 29 July). It

OF QUANG DIING agreed that the Governor should visit Governor Xit

explain what he proposed and to seek Chinese cooperation.

visit is scheduled for 19-21 October. We have now learned that

Xi will be in the United States at that time, but the Governor

is content to speak to Acting Governor Yang Shangkun. It is the

Governor's intention to introduce legislation on 23 October to

come into effect 4 to 10 days later. (Hong Kong Telegram No 1315).

When Mr Blaker agreed this visit, he said that the Governor

should consult London at the appropriate time about the exact date

for legislation and the introduction of the scheme, in the light

of the fact that Parliament resumes on 27 October (Mr Blaker's

note on Mr Morrice's submission of 11 September).

6.

7. The Governor expressed concern (Paragraph 2 of Hong Kong

Telegram No 1255) that too much delay in authorising implementation

might provoke a last-minute influx of immigrants. Because of the

risk of leaks, which will be increased by the visit to Guangdong,

the Governor (in Hong Kong Telegram No 1315) has now requested

authority to proceed with his timing without the need to refer back

to London following his visit to Guangdong.

There are, in addition, strong technical reasons for fixing

an exact timetable for legislation now. The arrangements for

8.

/legislation

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