TNAG-1089-FCO40-1339-Illegal-immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 45

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

119

PP HONG KONG

CONFIDENTIAL

39904 1

136

ник 3411

GRS

210

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO 0416553 DEC 81

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 923 OF 4 DEC

INFO ROUTINE PEKING

YOUR TELNO 1081: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT MOTHERS

DESK OFFICE INDEX

PA

PE: TRY

Action Taken

KO

CGE

10/12

Flm 14/1-

THESE CASES HAVE

1. WE HAVE SEEN LETTER REFERRED TO IN TUR.

SIMILAR POTENTIAL FOR PARLIAMENTARY INTEREST HERE AS THOSE

INVOLVING SMUGGLED CHILDREN. THESE ARE PROBLEMS IN WHICH THE LPS

TAKES A CLOSE INTEREST.

2.

WE FULLY APPRECIATE THE COMPELLING NEED

TO MAINTAIN THE CREDIBILITY OF THE CHAMPION POLICY AND TO DETER

ANY FORM OF TRAFFICKING IN ILLEGALS. HOWEVER WE ARE NOT SURE

THAT THE DETERRENT VALUE OF RETURNING THE MOTHERS TO CHINA IN

THESE CASES IS QUITE AS STRONG AS THAT OF RETURNING ILLEGAL

CHILDREN. THE PARENTS WILL STILL HAVE MANAGED TO GET THEIR

CHILD CUKC STATUS AND MAY CONTINUE TO REGARD THIS AS WORTH

CONSIDERABLE SACRIFICE.

3. GIVEN THAT THE SEPARATION OF A MOTHER FROM HER BABY IS A

MORE EMOTIVE MATTER THAN THE ILLEGAL CHILDREN ISSUE, THERE COULD

BE A STRONG REACTION AGAINST THE POLICY BOTH IN HONG KONG AND

HERE.

4.

WE SHALL HAVE TO BRIEF THE LPS ON THIS NEXT WEEK. GRATEFUL

FOR AN UP-TO-DATE ASSESSMENT OF THE POSITION INCLUDING NUMBERS IN

HONG KONG AND ALREADY REPATRIATED AND OF TRENDS IN LOCAL OPINION. (WE HAVE SEEN SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST EDITORIAL OF 25 NOVEMBER).

CARRINGTON

LIMITED

See (127

HKGD

FED

MR DONALD

CONFIDENTIAL

Page 45Page 46

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