TNAG-1102-FCO40-1352-Smuggling-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-or-Taiwan-1981 — Page 28

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CONFIDENTIAL

Legal Immigration

12.

immi

Present average of 150 legal immigrants per day is still very high

حيد

it amounts to 1% increase in population per annum.

Almost all come technically as visitors but stay permanently.

Governor has said this is problem which will have to be

tackled later but not until more important problem of illegal

movement is firmly under control. No need to raise with

Chinese on visit.

SMUGGLING BETWEEN CHINA AND HONG KONG

13. Chinese have become much concerned by increase in

smuggling activities along South China coast. Endemic problem

which diminishes when control in China is tight and grows

when, as at present, local discipline is slack.

14.

Chinese may mention this problem and blame Hong Kong

for increase. True that some of Hong Kong fishing fleet involved

in smuggling and that contraband comes from, or is landed in,

Hong Kong.

15.

Governor discussed smuggling with Vice-Governor Zeng

Dingshi of Guangdong when latter was in Hong Kong in January.

They agreed it was a matter of mutual concern and that toleration

of any illegal activity across frontier encouraged other illegal activities eg organised illegal immigration.

16. Smuggling involves export from China of silver coin and

medicinal herbs. Smuggled into China are television sets,

radios, watches and cloth. This trade is not illegal under

Hong Kong law. Hong Kong has, however, been able to exercise

some control by using other related laws, eg failure to obtain export or import licences. On 23 January Hong Kong Government announced tighter application of existing regulations, involving regular searches of boats.