TNAG-0984-FCO40-1203-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 97

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RELAXED, FRIENDLY AND MUCH MORE FORTHCOMING THAN LIU. HE SAID

THAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION WAS 'A MAJOR HEADACHE FOR BOTH SIDES': IT

WAS ALSO DAMAGING TO CHINA'S REPUTATION. IF HONG KONG WAS NOW

GOING TO TAKE RESOLUTE MEASURES TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM THE

CHINESE WOULDACERTAINLY TAKE ACTION ON THEIR SIDE TO MATCH. HE

SEEMED TO HAVE NO HESITATION IN ASSOCIATING THEIR ACTIONS WITH

OURS.

IN REPLY TO MY REMARK THAT ONE COULD NOT FORESEE WHAT WOULD

HAPPEN IF WE BOTH FAILED TO SEIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY, HE SAID

REPEATEDLY THAT HE WAS SURE THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN. HE APOLOGISED

FOR NOT ATTENDING THE MORNING'S MEETING, SAYING THAT SINCE HE

WOULD LEAVE FOR PEKING AS SOON AS GOVERNOR XI RETURNED HE HAD

THOUGHT IT BETTER FOR THE DISCUSSION TO BE WITH THE VICE GOVERNORS

WHO WOULD ACTUALLY BE RUNNING THINGS AFTER HIS DEPARTURE.

5.

THE PUBLIC SECURITY REPRESENTATIVE AT THE DINNER INTERVENED

REPEATEDLY TO SAY THAT ORDERS TO STEP UP COUNTER-MEASURES HAD

ALREADY BEEN ISSUED FOLLOWING THIS MORNING'S DISCUSSION.

6.

SINCE THE CHINESE HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THE CHANGE OF POLICY

WILL BE OF SIGNIFICANT HELP TO THEM AND, WITH VARYING DEGREES OF

FORTHRIGHTNESS, THAT THEY WILL USE THE OCCASION TO MOUNT THEIR OWN

OFFENSIVE AGAINST ILLEGAL MOVEMENT, I NOW FEEL JUSTIFIED IN GOING

AHEAD.

7. BECAUSE OF YANG'S DEPARTURE AND XI'S ABSENCE FOR THE NEXT

THREE OR FOUR WEEKS I HAVE SUGGESTED THAT IF XI DOES NOT RETURN

THROUGH HONG KONG (MOST UNLIKELY) WILSON SHOULD VISIT GUANGZHOU

AFTER XI'S RETURN TO REVIEW PROGRESS IN ABOUT SIX WEEKS. AGAINST

THE BACKGROUND OF THE ASSURANCES GIVEN, THIS SHOULD ALLOW US TO

URGE THE CHINESE TO STEP UP PRESSURE IF NECESSARY.

8. I WILL REPORT TO EXCO TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AND HAVE NO DOUBT

THEY WILL ADVISE CHAMPION SHOULD GO AHEAD AS PLANNED ON

23 OCTOBER.

9. A REPORT ON OTHER MATTERS DISCUSSED (E.G. ECONOMIC COOPERATION

AND CHINESE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF CHINESE PASSPORT

HOLDERS TRANSITTING HONG KONG) WILL FOLLOW BY BAG.

LIMITED

HKGD

PS/MR BLAKER

SIRE YOUDE

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