Recaine's
FM. WILSON HK CONFIDENTIAL
POL ADVISER
farewell Lisi dollarin
HKK. 341/1
GUANGZHOU, 7-8 OCTOBER 1981: SUMMARY RECORD OF DISCUSSIONS
Water Supplies
No
(.५
21/10 iGo 41/10
See (97)
I discussed water supplies with Governor Liu. Tianfu over dinner on 7 October. He said that Guangdong had suffered excessive rainfall this year. He could not understand how this was not true also of Hong Kong. I said that, despite what had happened in Guangdong, we were very short of rainwater; population increase had added to our problems. We hoped it would be possible to increase water supplies above the amount previously agreed or to speed the construction of new facilities. Mr Liu said equipment was the problem. Existing pipes could not supply much more water. I said that, if there was some way we could help over equipment, we would be willing to do so.
2.
Vice Governor Zeng Dingshi intervened to say that an investigation team had been sent to look into the problem. They had telephoned the previous day and would return on 10 October.
do something to help.
He thought it might be possible to A letter had been sent that day to
Mr McDonald suggesting two alternative dates for him to come to Guangzhou for talks. Governor Liu repeated that they would do anything they could to help.
Immigration
3.
Immigration
Following a comment by Governor Liu that illegal emigration was now under better control, and having agreed and thanked them for their co-operation, I said that legal immigration was still a serious problem. It was adding some 50-55,000 people to our population per year and causing many difficulties. Mr Liu said the problem was not an easy one. Hong Kong should deal with the matter after the permits of those concerned had expired. I asked if he
CONFIDENTIAL
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