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stricter policy against illegal immigration from China.
expected to come to London shortly.
They are
The Governor originally asked
that they should not be seen here at all (Mr Clift's submission of
4 December). Whilst it would be quite inappropriate for them to be
received by a Minister, to decline to see them at any level could
put the Office in a very weak position. Since such groups usually
lobby MPs, we would probably invite Parliamentary as well as Press
criticism.
If, on the other hand, groups were seen at working level,
they could be told squarely that HMG fully supported the Hong Kong
Government's policy. The Governor has now agreed that the Wanderers
can be seen at working level.
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9. Press treatment needs to be geared to each case. If a particular
group sees a Minister, the appointment will be announced and News
Department can answer enquiries with an agreed line after the call.
Where the FCO wished to make its position absolutely clear, a press
release could be issued. But it is general policy not to announce
calls on officials as a general rule and certainly not to take the
initiative in making statements about a call on officials. This is
to enable News Department to avoid comment on confidential matters.
We could, however, prepare in advance a counter-statement for use in
London and Hong Kong on the FCO's authority to meet any statement
issued by the group in question. This could take the line that the
matter was one for the Hong Kong Government and that the deputation
had been told that we agreed with Hong Kong's handling of the problem.
10. This would of course depend on our getting advance notice of the
subject and adequate briefing from Hong Kong. We have this in the
case of the Wanderers. Obviously we must not make a rubber stamp of
CONFIDENTIAL
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