TNAG-1089-FCO40-1339-Illegal-immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 66

GR 200

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

HIK 341/1

FIL VER

FM HONG KONG 022942Z DEC 81

TO PRIORITY F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1079 OF 2 DECEMBER

DESK OFFIC

INDEX

No

LA

CRE

INFO PEKING

(113)

YOUR TELNO 905: TLLEGAL IMMIGRATION BY CHILDREN FROM CHINA

1. YOUR PARA 1. NOTED.

то р

10/1

сову

2. YOUR PARA 2. THERE ARE OF COURSE LEGAL MEANS BY WHICH CHILDREN (AND FOR THAT MATTER SPOUSES, PARENTS ETC.) LIVING IN CHINA CAN COME TO HONG KONG TO BE REUNITED WITH FAMILIES ALREADY HERE. THEY APPLY TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES AND IF THEIR APPLICATIONS ARE APPROVED THEY JOIN THE LONG WAITING LIST FOR INCLUSION IN THE DAILY QUOTA OF LEGAL EMIGRANTS (AT PRESENT 150 A DAY). OUR PRESENT POLICY IS TO ADMIT FOR SETTLEMENT ALL THOSE IN THIS QUOTA. (THE FACT THAT WE ARE HOPING TO LIMIT SETTLEMENT TO THOSE HOLDING ONE-WAY FERMITS ONLY AFFECTS THE SITUATION ONLY TO THE EXTENT OF A POSSIBLE MODEST REDUCTION IN THE DAILY INFLOW EVEN IF THE CHINESE AGREE, THERE WILL STILL BE 75 100 PERSONS ARRIVING EVERY DAY TO SETTLE HERE).

3. THERE ARE THOUSANDS IN CHINA ANXIOUS TO SETTLE IN HONG KONG SO THE WAITING TIME IS LIKELY TO AVERAGE SEVERAL YEARS. REGRETTABLE THOUGH THIS MAY SEEM ON HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS, HONG KONG IS QUITE UNABLE TO ACCEPT IMMIGRATION AT ANY HIGHER RATE THAN AT PRESENT AND AS THE GOVERNOR SAID IN HIS SPEECH TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 7TH OCTOBER IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO REDUCE IT. AND IT WAS THE PARENTS WHO LEFT THE CHILDREN BEHIND IN THE FIRST PLACE. BY TRYING NOW TO BRING THE CHILDREN HERE ILLEGALLY, THE PARENTS ARE HOPING THEY WILL JUMP THE QUEUE.

MACLEHO SE

LIMITED

HK OGD

FED MUD

NEWS D UND

Ps

PS LPS PSIMRLUCE PSIPUS

MR DONALD

THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT

ADVANCED

M. McQue 712 M. Wilhimen

See 124

Though a bit bleak this is

CONFIDENTIAL realistic. I think the

114

I was think it best for HK now to get

involved. 2/12

hive in 2

is Ok

use if

challeged

Pl consider

for Munistical

minertà li PS/RPS

some

Shad there be

Fold children who might wish I apply! 22/12

arrangement for the Chiness autruites to to

of