TNAG-1197-FCO40-1499-Legal-immigration-into-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 24

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9

Mr Hoare

Mr Clift

(16)

Reference

PA

CONFIDENTIAL

The timing of the response is

interesting, altingh if

the Chunese are conserasy

attempting to set a good atmosphere for the law's visit, it can be interpreted both ways!

LEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA INTO HONG KONG

1.

Please see telno 1001 from Hong Kong and telno 506 from Peking, reporting the Chinese response to our approach of November 1981 over legal immigration.

2.

The Chinese response is helpful as far as it goes. Both Mr McLaren and Mr Atkinson repeated our request for a reduction in the proportion of one-way permits and in the validity of two-way permits. It will certainly help if over- stayers with two-way permits may be returned to China.

3.

I do not think there are any other points we need ask Messrs McLaren and Atkinson to make to the Chinese, but it may be worth sending a telegram encouraging them to continue to urge these two points. I attach a draft.

4.

The Prime Minister's briefing for Hong Kong will need amending to take account of these developments: this could wait at least until we have Mr McLaren's comments and the copy of Mr Tan's speaking note. I shall speak to Mr Cox about whether some background information on this should be included in the Peking briefing.

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6.S. Edgar

C G Edgar

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9 September 1982

M. Edgar

Is this cleared wik FED?

CODE 18-77

SS 8/78

Mutt 14019

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1. Draft telegum sleared with Mr. Cox. He doubts whether the PM needs

briefing on this for Poking

Alan Donald.

visit

but suggests it is worth mentioning to

CONFIDENTIAL

ca@@gar 10/9

Mr. House a

Please

see minute

overleaf