FR$ 670
CONFIDENT
CONFIDENTIAL
Original at: HICK 34114
This Copy for:
Thformation only / Action_an
FM HONG KONG 120812Z PDEC)
ikir 943).
WE
19066
PA
REGIE: NA. 51
13 DEC 1979
13.12 14
DESKEY 126900Z
INDEX
TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1747 OF 12 DECEMBER 1979
Мы
INFO PRIORITY PEKING.
J13.12
See 1907
1905
YOUR TELNO 1035: WRITTEN P.Q.
1. THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IS IMPORTANT, TO US AND TO THE CHINESE. AT THE GENEVA CONFERENCE IN JULY THE SOVIET DELEGATE ACCUSED CHINA OF SENDING OVER 117,000 REFUGEES' TO HONG KONG AND ALSO ATTACKED THE U.K. FOR NOT MENTIONING IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA, IN HIS SPEECH THE GOVERNOR MADE A POINT OF SAYING THAT: ''THE ONLY REFUGEES IN HONG KONG ARE FROM VIETNAM''. THE CHINESE DELEGATION PRIVATELY EXPRESSED APPRECIATION. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DISTINCTION TO THE CHINESE WAS REPEATED DURING THE RECENT VISIT HERE BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GUANGDONG PROVINCIAL REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE. WE THEREFORE SUGGEST THAT, UNLESS THE QUESTION CAN BE AMENDED TO REFER SEPARATELY TO REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA, ONLY FIGURES ON THE FORMER SHOULD BE PROVIDED.
2. THE FIGURES REQUESTED FOR, YOUR PARA 2(A) ARE AS FOLLOWS:
3,743 191
1975
1976
1977
1,001
1978
6,609
1979: BY MONTHS
JANUARY: 5,395
FEBRUARY:
5,552
MARCH:
3,114
APRIL:
6,143
MAY:
18,688
JUNE:
19,651
CONFIDENTIAL
JUL