TNAG-1197-FCO40-1499-Legal-immigration-into-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 4

10

(b)

(c)

(a).

(e)

(f)

(g)

as visitors, they will no longer be allowed

(i)

:

to obtain an identity card after 180 days here;

(ii) to work;

(iii) to travel overseas; or

(iv) to attend school;

(The present

overstayers will be dealt with in the same way as transitees who overstay. arrangements work well and are acceptable to the Chinese);

the period of validity of two-way permits issued by the Chinese authorities should reflect the new arrangements, i.e. it should be for no longer than is necessary to enable the permit holder to accomplish his journey to the border, a one-month stay in Hong Kong and his return to China;

(only if pressed) where there are very compelling grounds, we could consider a short extension beyond one month;

the shorter the length of visits, (and if arrangements work well,) the easier and the sooner it would be possible to con- sider an expansion in the number of visitors; and

a review of the effectiveness of the new procedures should be held after six months.

The Chinese may be reluctant to accept a blanket one-month rule from the outset. Whilst this should be our opening bid, a fall-back position would be to allow two-way permit holders to stay for no longer than, say, three months and to bring pressure to bear on the Chinese to issue only short validity permits. Although less satisfactory, since it depends more heavily on Chinese cooperation, such an arrangement would still achieve the objective of reducing the numbers entering Hong Kong for permanent settlement.

11

The reason for taking a firm line on the visit period of preferably one and not exceeding three months, is that the shorter the stay permitted, the less time the indivi- dual has to get used to and settled in Hong Kong. Also the longer a visitor is allowed to remain :

SECRET