2.
CONFIDENTIAL
ON 17 NOVEMBER THE APA GAVE THE NCNA BACKGROUND DETAILS OF THE GROUP OF 69: NOTABLY, THAT UNDER QUESTIONING THEY HAD ADMITTED THAT THEY HAD BEEN WELCOMED FOR SETTLEMENT IN CHINA AND GIVEN RATIONS BY A COMMUNE IN PEI HAI CITY, KWANGSI.
4. THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE INITIAL REFUSAL TO ACCEPT THE GROUP OF 133 ARE HARD TO ASSESS AT THIS STAGE. IN RECENT WEEKS A SMALL NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED ON THE LAND BORDER HAVE TURNED OUT TO BE OVERSEAS CHINESE FROM VIETNMA. SO FAR THEY HAVE BEEN RETURNED IN THE NORMAL WAY WITHOUT DIFFICULTY. THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM IN CHINA WHO HAVE REQUESTED PERMISSION TO GO TO HONG KONG HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS WILL ONLY BE GRANTED IF THEY HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED BY ANOTHER COUNTRY. SO FAR THIS HAS BEEN GENERALLY BORNE OUT BY THE PATTERN OF LEGAL
IMMIGRATION.
5. THIS LOOKS LIKE THE BEGINNING OF A PROBLEM WHICH POSES DIFFICULTIES FOR THE CHINESE AS WELL AS US. WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF THE NUMBERS OF REFUGEES WHO HAVE REACHED CHINA BY BOAT FROM VIETNAM AND BEEN ACCEPTED FOR SETTLEMENT. HOWEVER, THE NUMBERS COULD BE CONSIDERABLE.
6. WE EXPECT THE CHINESE TO REGARD THEIR DECISION IN THIS CASE AS SETTING A PRECEDENT AND THAT THE MATTER WILL HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO PEKING. UNFORTUNATELY THIS MEANS THAT A DECISION
MAY TAKE SOME TIME.
7. IN RESPONSE TO PRESS QUERIES WE ARE TAKING THE LINE THAT THIS GROUP HAS NOT YET BEEN ACCEPTED BY CHINA, THAT THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN TOLD WHY WE BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE ENTERED ILLEGALLY FROM CHINA AND THAT THE CASE IS TILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. WE SHALL REPORT FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS.
MACLEHOSE
FILE S
HK & GD
UND
FED
SEAD
MR CORTAZZI
MR STRATTON MR MURRAY
(6)
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
2
CONFIDENTIAL
LONDON