TNAG-1197-FCO40-1499-Legal-immigration-into-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 20

GR 400

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 100440Z SEPT 82

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1021 OF 10 SEPTEMBER

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

TO)

Lkk 341/3.

MY TELNO 1001 AND PEKING TELNO 506: LEGAL IMMIGRATION. WE AGREE WITH THE AMBASSADOR THAT THIS WAS PROBABLY AS GOOD A RESPONSE AS WE COULD HAVE EXPECTED IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES. NEVERTHELESS, THE ONLY UNEQUIVOCAL ADVANCE ON THE PRESENT POSITION IS THE UNDERTAKING TO TAKE BACK HOLDERS OF 2-WAY PERMITS WHO OVERSTAY. THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROMISE TO IMPROVE EXIT PROCEDURES ARE NOT CLEAR. TAKEN TOGETHER WITH THE STATEMENT THAT THE CHINESE WILL CONTINUE TO CONTROL THE NUMBER OF PERMITS,

IT MAY MEAN THAT THE DAILY AVERAGE OF 1-WAY AND 2-WAY PERMITS WILL BE MAINTAINED AT 150, AND THAT THE PROPORTION OF 1-WAY PERMITS WITHIN THIS TOTAL WILL AT LEAST NOT BE PERMITTED TO RISE ABOVE THE PRESENT 75 PERCENT. IF THIS IS SO, AND DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF 2-WAY PERMIT HOLDERS WHO RETURN TO CHINA VOLUNTARILY, OR CAN BE SENT BACK BY US WITH CHINESE COOPERATION, THE EFFECT WOULD BE TO REDUCE BY UP TO 37 PEOPLE A DAY THE NUMBERS NOW COMING HERE FOR PERMANENT SETTLEMENT. THIS WOULD CERTAINLY BE AN IMPROVEMENT. BUT EXPERIENCE WILL TELL.

2. IT ALSO REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER THE CHINESE DO IN FACT CUT DOWN ON THE PERIOD OF VALIDITY OF 2-WAY PERMITS. THEY MAY CONTEST THE POINT THAT IT WILL BE EASIER TO PERSUADE PEOPLE TO RETURN IF VISITS ARE SHORTER, BUT IT IS ENCOURAGING THAT ZHENG TOLD ATKINSON THAT IT WAS 'UNDERSTOOD'' THAT A MONTH SHOULD BE ENOUGH FOR A NORMAL FAMILY VISIT.

3. WE SHALL BE WATCHING THE FIGURES VERY CLOSELY OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. IF THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE NUMBERS COMING FOR SETTLEMENT WE MIGHT, AS WE HINTED IN OUR PROPOSALS LAST YEAR, BE WILLING TO ACCEPT AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF GENUINE VISITORS WHICH WOULD TAKE THE TOTAL DIALY AVERAGE ABOVE 150. BUT THIS IS FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION.

4. IN THE MEANTIME WE SHALL SEEK TO DEVISE ARRANGEMENTS FOR DEALING WITH NEW-STYLE VISITORS WHICH WILL MINIMISE THE RISK OF COMPLAINT. EXCO WILL NEED TO BE CONSULTED. WE SHALL THEN NEED TO GET CHINESE AGREEMENT TO THE PROCEDURE FOR RETURNING OVER-STAYERS AND TO A DATE FOR ITS INTRODUCTION. THESE QUESTIONS ARE PROBABLY BEST DISCUSSED LOCALLY, EITHER THROUGH NCNA, OR WITH THE GUANGDONG AUTHORITIES CONCERNED.

5. AS SEEN FROM HERE, THE TIMING OF THIS LONG DELAYED REPLY TO OUR APPROACH MAY HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED BY THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO CHINA. SUBJECT TO YOUR AND THE EMBASSY'S VIEWS. THE PRIME MINISTER MIGHT, IF A SUITABLE OPPORTUNITY OCCURS, EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR CHINESE COOPERATION OVER IMMIGRATION GENERALLY, SHOW AWARENESS OF THIS NEW CHINESE MOVE ON LEGALS, AND SAY THAT SHE HOPES IT WILL LEAD TO A REDUCTION IN THE 55,000 A YEAR NOW COMING TO HONG KONG FOR PERMANENT SETTLEMENT.

HADDON-CAVE

LIMITED HK vGD FE D PUSD

MR GIFFARD MIL DONALD

MR URE

CONFIDENTIAL

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