TNAG-1821-FCO40-2584-Emigration-from-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 78

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MDHIAN 4875

BE A CONTINUING PROBLEM WHICH WE NEED TO FACE UP TO REALISTICALLY

AND DEAL WITH IN PRACTICAL WAYS. THE MORE WE DO TO MAKE HONG KONG

A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN

BY

IMPROVING EDUCATION, HOUSING, THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE, THE LESS LIKELY PEOPLE ARE TO WANT TO CUT THEMSELVES OFF FROM THEIR ROOTS AND LEAVE THIS REMARKABLE TERRITORY TO WHICH THEY ARE SO DEEPLY ATTACHED.

(B) ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

117.

-

AND RIGHTLY

SUCH

JUST AS EMIGRATION IS A LONG STANDING HISTORICAL PHENOMENON, SO IS IMMIGRATION, BOTH LEGAL AND ILLEGAL. EARLIER THIS YEAR ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION WAS REACHING SERIOUS LEVELS. IN MAY WE WERE RETURNING AN AVERAGE OF 100 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS A DAY TO CHINA. LARGE NUMBERS REPRESENT A SERIOUS PROBLEM. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, WHO CAN NEVER LEGITIMIZE THEIR POSITION ARE ALL TO EASY A PREY FOR

CRIMINAL ELEMENTS AND MAY TURN TO OTHER ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES THEMSELVES. TO CURB THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ENTERING HONG KONG, THE GOVERNMENT HAVE SINCE MAY PROSECUTED GROUPS ARRESTED AT THEIR PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT, AS WELL AS EMPLOYERS FOUND AIDING AND ABETTING THEM. I AM PLEASED TO SAY THAT THIS MEASURE HAS PROVED EFFECTIVE. THERE HAS BEEN A SHARP DROP IN THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED ON ENTRY. BUT WE MUST MAINTAIN OUR VIGILANCE.

WE SHALL CONTINUE TO USE ALL MEANS AT OUR DISPOSAL TO DETER WOULD-BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

ENDS

WILSON

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

62

.HONG KONG AGREEMENT

. (RESTRICTED)

LIMITED

HKD

(22 COPIES)

•

HD/FED

RESEARCH (FE)

DISTRIBUTION

65

PAGE

PUSD

PS/LORD GLENARTHUR

PS/MR EGGAR

PS/PUS

MR MCLAREN

MR GILLMORE

3

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