SECRET
FM PEKING
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 996
OF 31053OZ MAY 88
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG,
SECRET
-210
Q་་
HUD 243/8
212
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
063141
MDLIAN 1140
HONG KONG TELNOS 2016 AND 2047: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
1. WE ARE CONTENT TO TAKE THIS UP WITH THE CHINESE ON THE BASIS OF THE SPEAKING NOTE IN SECOND TUR, ALTHOUGH WE WOULD FIND IT HELPFUL IF THE NOTE COULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE SOME DETAILS ON HONG KONG'S CHANGE OF POLICY AND ITS IMPLICATIONS.
2.
WE ARE NOT ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT IT IS NECESSARY, OR DESIRABLE, FOR HONG KONG TO FLOAT THE POINT ABOUT CHINESE ASSISTANCE TO BOAT PEOPLE UNATTRIBUTABLY IN THE PRESS (PARAGRAPH 3 OF FIRST TUR). WE ARE INCLINED TO THINK THAT THE CHANGE OF POLICY ITSELF TOGETHER WITH THE EVIDENCE WHICH HONG KONG HAS OF CHINESE ASSISTANCE, WOULD PROVIDE A SUFFICIENT REASON FOR US TO RAISE THE MATTER.
3. GRATEFUL FOR INSTRUCTIONS.
/
DONALD
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
121
ΜΑΙΝ
118
.VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HK
ECD (E)
LIMITED
SPD
HKD
FED
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
WED
SED
PUSD
ECD (I).
NEWS
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS MR EGGAR
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR SLATER
MR MCLAREN
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