TNAG-1413-FCO40-1889-Future-of-Hong-Kong-annual-report-to-Parliament-on-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 235

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*150. NOTWITHSTANDING THE OVERALL REDUCTION IN ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBERS ATTEMPTING TO ENTER HONG KONG ILLEGALLY IN MIDDLE AND LATE 1985. CAPTURE FIGURES FOR THIS PERIOD AVERAGED 1,250 PERSONS PER MONTH, THAT IS 30 PERCENT UP ON THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, OR APPROXIMATELY 15 PERCENT OF THE LEVEL IN 1979. THE REASONS FOR THE INCREASE APPEAR TO BE RUMOURS OF AN AMNESTY AND DECREASED LEVELS OF BORDER SECURITY DUE TO THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF A REDUCTION IN THE GARRISON, NEITHER OF WHICH ARE TRUE. THE INCREASE MAY ALSO BE IN PART AS A RESULT OF THE INTRODUCTION OF MORE SOPHISTICATED DETECTION EQUIPMENT ALONG THE BORDER EARLIER THIS YEAR. INTELLIGENCE EVALUATION SHOWS THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF EVADERS AT THE BORDER OUT OF THE TOTAL NUMBERS THAT ATTEMPT TO CROSS HAS DECREASED DRAMATICALLY FROM 53 PERCENT IN 1979 TO 10 PERCENT IN 1985. SUBSEQUENT ROUND-UPS OF EVADERS IN THE URBAN AREAS HAVE RESULTED IN 100 PERCENT CAPTURE RATES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. CROSS BORDER CONSULTATIONS WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN HELD TO TRY TO STEM THE RECENT INCREASE.''

YOUDE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT : RESTRICTED

LIMITED

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RESEARCH D (FE)

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MR WILSON

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COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS

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