TNAG-0985-FCO40-1204-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 44

11.

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TRANSLATION

1421/1/00

1

Ta Kung Pao Th

dated 17.11.00 (Signet ortick)

How can there be all sorts of restrictions on those who

enter the thrritory with proper permite?

Since the Hong Kong authorities abandoned their, so called "touch base" polloy, dd flow of "illegal immigrants" from the intend has on the whole been halted. Some "aneke-heads" from Hong Kong who had been active in the finland have been caught and dealt with by the local courte. As a result of efforta from both sides to clop the flow, the number of IIs sighted at the border areas has dropped drastically, According to the original estimate of the II.K. Government, the number of IIs who entered Hong Kong before 23rd October was between 15,000 and 30,000 persons (at one time someone exaggerated the figure to be as high as 100,000). The registration for identity cards, however, shows that the number was only 6,000-odd.

We can now see clearly that the "II problem" which had boon a hot issue for quite sometime was not really as serious as that some people caid. Many unfavourable conditions which we in consequence of the "cultural revolution" undoubtedly had brought many IIs from the inland, but the "touch base" policy which Hong Kong practised as a means to absorb cheap labour had also been an incentive to them. When Hong Kong's cheap labour force was almost saturated, the Government then changed its tone and stressed on the deteriorating social problems caused by the immigrants and tried to put the blame of its failure in the domestic scene squarely on the shoulders of the IIs. There has been much propaganda both before and after the enforcement of the new legislation, creating the impression that it was "play-ecting".

The problem should now come to an end. The authorities concemied in Hong Kong should sum up their part experience and not to talk glibly again. The population as a whole hopes the authorities will now concentrate on solving the urgent domestic problems it faces. The strange thing is meny are still using plaititudes to accuse the Cuangdong authorities in letters to the editora, in articles purported to be from Informed scurces and in editorials, and they make proposals requesting the Hong Kong authorities to go a stap further and deal with those from the inland who entered Hong Kong with proper permite as woll. Even Mr. A. Carter, the Deputy Director of Imigration, dienlosed at a luncheon meating recmtly that

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/the

606 2004