TNAG-1088-FCO40-1338-Illegal-immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 116

From The Minister of State

Dean Peler

ZZA

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SWIA 2AH HKK 341||

RECEIVED IN PASSINY NO. 51

6 February 19812 FEB 1981

SK OFFICER

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taken

Thank you for your letter of 28 January to Peter Blaker and the news release and letter from the Wanderers' Association on which you ask for comments. I am replying in Peter Blaker's absence

overseas.

See (20)

Hong Kong is a small and crowded place. Its brisk economy and high standard of living have, over the years, acted as a magnet, mainly for farmers from south China, who have placed an enormous burden on the housing and social services of the Territory. These people are not political refugees, as the Wanderers state, but illegal immigrants. The Hong Kong Government introduced in October of last year what have proved to be effective measures to curb this influx and these were fully endorsed by Her Majesty's Government. All individual cases are examined very carefully before illegal immigrants are returned to China. I have no information suggesting that they are subjected to maltreatment there.

Yman

Nicudas

Peter Bottomley Esq MP House of Commons

Nicholas Ridley MP

Pho 12/2