TNAG-2871-FCO40-4125-Hong-Kong-immigration-policy-and-statistics-1993 — Page 133

HKCC 341/1

RLCMT

RECISTRY

JUN 1993

DESK CER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY Action Tak:

Cheey

Mr Burton,

Hong Kong Dept

M M

Moris

J

Good idea

Not that Ind. deserve such a

"rapid perguruse, but could are smoke

monale te cik a responce our of t

Pa's

са

1016?

ما دس

the pays office of the Jil infamate Mis Banes.

question. Mos Jones agrees NS 7/6.

20

in time

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA

In the E.C. working group on Immigration, concern has been expressed by a number of partners about an increase in the number of Chinese asylum seekers, who in reality are economic migrants rather than genuine refugees. The (so far) unsubstantiated belief is that a large proportion of the flow is organised, and probably comes through Hong Kong, with forged HK documents being used.

I attach a copy of a letter from the Home Office, together with an extract from the minutes of the Ad Hoc Group meeting held on 24 May, recording in outline the concerns of a number of countries; you will notice that the Presidency has invited other member states to provide information about their own experiences. The subject was raised in the margins of another meeting last month, after which the Home Office asked whether we could seek the views of Hong Kong; we explained that if indeed an organised immigration racket is operating in Hong Kong that would be a matter for the law enforcement authorities and that we would need more to go on if we expected any sensible reaction. These latest comments by partners are still sketchy, but migration is very topical and this particular aspect seems certain to be raised again. But before deciding on whether and how we might approach Hong Kong, I would welcome any comments you may have.

I have told the Home Office that a considered response is unlikely to be possible in time for the meeting next week. If however they are pressed, they will say that we are discussing the matter with the authorities in Hong Kong, and that we would welcome any further detailed information that partners can provide.

cc Mr Bristow Smith FED

за

R.W. Sindon

Migration & Visa Dept CL 407

4 June 1993

270 4045