TNAG-1031-FCO40-1281-Visits-by-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-th-1981 — Page 108

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with the Chinese on some important details.

The

Secretary of State will not wish to raise it, but the

Chinese may.

d) Illegal and legal immigration.

The former is not now

really an issue since the stricter repatriation policy

has been such a success. However, the number of legal

immigrants remains high at about 150 a day and the

Governor may wish the Secretary of State to raise this

in Peking (Brief No 14).

There are a number of other, less contentious, issues

which the Governor wishes to discuss, Briefs are provided.

(Briefs Nos 9, 13, 15, 16 and 17).

MEETING WITH THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND

LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS (UMELCO)

8. There are 9 Unofficial Members of the Executive Council.

Five of them also serve on the Legislative Council, together

with 19 other Unofficial Members. By taking part in the proces

of government, the 28 Members of UMELCO provide an outside

critical element and serve as a public watchdog on the

administration. Many of their questions to the Secretary of

State will be on topics which will already have been discussed

with senior officials, particularly those in paragraphs 4 and

5 above. The Nationality Bill will dominate. However, the

same line will not always be appropriate. Separate Points

to Make are therefore provided, together with background notes.

These also cover points which are not to be discussed with the

Governor but which might be raised by Unofficials, ie air

services, plans to replace Kai Tak Airport and the recently-

negotiated Defence Costs Agreement (Brief No 18). (Except

where indicated, this brief should also serve for the meeting

/with

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