CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2693
OF 13100OZ JULY 88
FINAL PART OF TWO PARTS
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY a DIST 7 ?
W172
050447
MDHIAN 7010
HURB 0271.
14 JUL 1988
INL
: FICER
PA
KY
an
/
Q14. MRS SELINA CHOW SAID THAT THE CASES UNDER COMPLAINT AGAINST UK IMMIGRATION OFFICERS HAPPENED AT VARIOUS ENTRY POINTS SUCH AS DOVER GATWICK AND HEATHROW. IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE HONG KONG TRAVELLERS, IN CONTRAST TO OTHERS, WERE GROUPED TOGETHER AND ASKED TO FILL IN FORMS. SOME OF THEM HAD BEEN QUESTIONED FOR MORE THAN THREE HOURS AND THE QUESTIONS WERE MOSTLY IRRELEVANT. SHE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE NUMBER OF CASES IN WHICH HONG KONG TRAVELLERS HAD BEEN FOUND OVERSTAYING OR ABSCONDING IN UK. SHE WONDERED WHY SUCH A PROBLEM OF ENTRY REFUSAL HAPPENED IN UK BUT NOT IN THE OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES. HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE CERTAINTY THAT ONCE THEY WERE GIVEN ENTRY CERTIFICATES, THEY COULD ENTER UK WITHOUT PROBLEM. SHE FURTHER POINTED OUT THAT THE CHARGES FOR UK ENTRY CERTIFICATES WERE UNREASONABLY HIGH WHEN COMPARED WITH OTHER COUNTRIES LIKE AUSTRALIA, CANADA AND THE USA WHICH DID NOT CHARGE ANY FEES AT ALL. SHE SUGGESTED AND MEMBERS AGREED THAT DETAILS OF THE COMPLAINTS BE MADE AVAILABLE TO HIS LORDSHIP FOR CONSIDERATION. THE MINISTER OF STATE, IN REPLY, SAID THAT HE WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL FOR ANY INFORMATION THAT COULD BE PROVIDED AND ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE CASES WOULD BE FULLY LOOKED INTO.
ΤΟ Α
15. MRS PAULINE NG DREW THE MINISTER OF STATE'S ATTENTION RECENT ADVERTISEMENT IN THE NEWSPAPERS THAT THERE WAS A REDUCTION OF HKD500 FOR TOURS TO EUROPE DURING HIGH SEASON APPARENTLY BECAUSE OF THE INCIDENTS OF REFUSAL ENTRY BY UK. THIS HAD SOMEWHAT AFFECTED THE CONFIDENCE OF HONG KONG PEOPLE.
16. THE MINISTER OF STATE SAID THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO PROVIDE STATISTICS ON THE NUMBER OF CASES OF OVERSTAYING AS THERE WERE SO MANY POINTS OF ENTRY IN UK BUT HE ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE COMPLAINTS WOULD BE PROPERLY INVESTIGATED.
DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT
17. MR MARTIN LEE SAID THAT IN VIEW OF THE IMPROVED SINO-BRITISH RELATIONSHIP, IT WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN BRITISH GARRISON AT THE EXISTING LEVEL. THE JOB OF THE BRITISH GARRISON WAS MAINLY
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PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
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