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020013
MDHIAN 3583
POSTPONEMENT OF THE 1 OCTOBER IMPLEMENTATION DATE, WE SHOULD DO SO URGENTLY. HE ADVISED THERE WOULD BE A VERY IMPORTANT SCHENGEN MEETING SOME TIME IN OCTOBER.
7. SPANISH CONSUL GENERAL ALSO SAID THERE WAS CONCERN IN SPAIN ABOUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM HONG KONG TO EUROPE, ESPECIALLY WHETHER EFFECTIVE IMMIGRATION CONTROLS WOULD CONTINUE TO BE IN PLACE AFTER 1997. THE POLITICAL ADVISER ASSURED HIM HONG KONG PEOPLE WERE LAW-ABIDING TRAVELLERS WITH AN EXCELLENT TRACK RECORD. AS FOR MAINLAND CHINESE TRANSITING HONG KONG, WE HAD TIGHT AND EFFECTIVE IMMIGRATION CONTROLS. THE JOINT DECLARATION AND BASIC LAW PROVIDED THAT ENTRY INTO THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF PERSONS FROM CHINA WOULD CONTINUE TO BE REGULATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRESENT PRACTICE. IF REQUIRED, WE COULD PROVIDE A NOTE GIVING DETAILS OF THE EXISTING MEASURES WE TOOK.
COMMENT
8 =
WE ARE STILL NOT TOTALLY CLEAR ABOUT THIS NEW EXPLANATION FOR THE SPANISH DECISION. THE SPANISH CONSUL GENERAL IS PERSONALLY SYMPATHETIC BUT, BY HIS OWN ADMISSION, CARRIES LITTLE WEIGHT IN MADRID. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY FURTHER CLARIFICATION WHICH MADRID CAN OBTAIN BEFORE WE MEET LEGCO AGAIN ON THE SUBJECT ON THE 14 SEPTEMBER. WE ALSO RECOMMEND THAT MADRID BE INSTRUCTED TO PRESS THE SPANISH URGENTLY FOR A POSTPONEMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION DATE, AND TO USE THE DELAY TO WORK WITH US TO RESOLVE THE DIFFICULTY.
PATTEN
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
42
HKD
MVD
SED
WED
ECD(I)
LEGAL ADVISERS
నినినిని
DISTRIBUTION
42
PS/MR GOODLAD
SIR J COLES
MR HUM
MR ALSTON
MR GREENSTOCK
MR JAY
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