TNAG-1197-FCO40-1499-Legal-immigration-into-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 28

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CONFIDENTIAL

5. The Select Committee on Defence visited Hong Kong in

July. They were briefed by Commander British Forces and

other Service and Government officials. Apart from some

minor points about conditions of service, they were

impressed by standards and morale of Garrison.

Immigration from China into Hong Kong

6. In 1979 and 1980, massive influx of illegal immigrants

from China put severe strain on Hong Kong's resources.

Previous policy was to repatriate only those caught when

entering Hong Kong. In October 1980, Government decided

also to repatriate those who evaded capture on entry and

were caught within the Territory. New policy has worked

well: Excellent Army, Police and Immigration cooperation.

Legal immigration from China also a problem. About

150 a day enter Hong Kong ostensibly for visits but in fact

for settlement. Government have approached Chinese to

reduce this number. Since 15 August, Chinese have agreed

to take back holders of transit visas who overstay in

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Hong Kong.

Law and Order

8. The Royal Hong Kong Police Force has an establishment

of 27,000, dealing mainly with crime and illegal immigration.

Increase in crime generally, a feature of the 1970s, has

recently been contained, but crimes of violence have continued

to increase, as has juvenile crime.

9.

Corruption, widespread in Police force in the early

1970s, no longer such a major problem, but still exists.

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CONFIDENTIAL

/Independent