TNAG-1091-FCO40-1341-Legal-immigration-from-China-and-Vietnam-into-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 25

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17.

(v)

same time vigilance would be needed to ensure that those who had been slippery did not again disappear);

that the Chinese should do all in their power, both when issuing visitors' permits to individuals and by public announcements, to emphasise that the permits were not authority to settle outside China and that the Hong Kong authorities would send visitors back if they overstayed. (It might be worth sounding the Chinese on the possibility of some mild punishment on those who breach the terms of their permits: a small fine would be an earnest of Chinese official concern).

As an inducement to the Chinese, we might hint that if the scheme worked well and the number of settlers stabilised at about 75 a day (or at some other acceptable level), we might be prepared to consider an increase in the number of visitors.

18.

In the light of the outcome of these approaches, we should need to take stock and make a careful judgement before deciding whether or not to go on. If the Chinese decline to give assurances (despite what has already been said to the Political Adviser), or if we concluded that assurances given would not be adhered to (both eventualities are distinct possibilities), then the scheme would have to be dropped until such time as we thought it worth trying again.

Preparations

19.

The burden of implementing the scheme would fall heavily on Immigration Department. As experience in dealing with the much smaller numbers of those allegedly in transit through Hong Kong has shown, it would need experienced and capable staff in some numbers. The connections overstayers are likely to have here would make them more difficult to catch. The Department has made preliminary plans for the maximum possible load i.e. 75 overstayers every day virtually all of whom, when detected, would appeal against removal. The latter could necessitate their being held for up to six weeks. For comparison, a daily total of 18-20 evaders from China and overstayers from other countries are at present being dealt with by Immigration Department. They are held on average

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/for 4 weeks