HCCD 243/8
несо
SECRET
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2046
OF 27104OZ MAY 88
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKMIS GENEVA
210
057723
MDLIAN 0601
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
1. WE HAVE RECENTLY COLLATED INFORMATION ON VIETNAMESE BOAT
ARRIVALS WHO HAVE RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES
AND PRC RESIDENTS IN CHINESE COASTAL PORTS EN ROUTE FROM VIETNAM TO HONG KONG. OUT OF 174 BOATS WHICH HAVE ARRIVED SO FAR THIS YEAR, 91 APPEAR (ON THE BASIS OF INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE BOAT PEOPLE CONCERNED) TO HAVE RECEIVED ASSISTANCE RANGING FROM SHELTER, FOOD
AND WATER TO NEW ENGINES AND EVEN NEW BOATS (PURCHASED FOR GOLD).
THE PORTS OF BEIHAI AND ZHANJIANG APPEAR TO BE PARTICULARLY
FAVOURED AND WE HAVE EVIDENCE OF OFFICIALS GIVING A FORM OF
WRITTEN (QUOTE) LAISSEZ PASSER (UNQUOTE) TO SOME BOATS REQUESTING
OTHER PORTS FURTHER ALONG THE ROUTE TO RENDER THE REFUGEES
ASSISTANCE AND LET THEM PROCEED ON THEIR WAY.
2. WE PROPOSE TO BRING THIS INFORMATION TO THE ATTENTION OF THE
CHINESE AUTHORITIES BOTH VIA THE NCNA HERE AND IN PEKING WITH A
VIEW TO SEEKING THEIR COOPERATION IN INSTRUCTING THEIR CITIZENS AND
OFFICIALS NOT TO OFFER OR PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE VIETNAMESE BOAT
PEOPLE AND, INDEED, TO ADVISE THEM STRONGLY TO RETURN TO VIETNAM. WE FEEL THIS APPROACH SHOULD BE MADE TO COINCIDE WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OPERATION WATCHMAN, WHEN THE BOAT PEOPLE COULD BE ADVISED OF HONG KONG'S CHANGE OF POLICY AND WARNED THAT THEY WILL BE TREATED
AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND HAVE NO CHANCE OF RESETTLEMENT. DRAFT
SPEAKING NOTE IN MIFT.
3. MEANWHILE WE PROPOSE TO FLOAT THE POINT ABOUT CHINESE ASSISTANCE
TO BOAT PEOPLE UNATTRIBUTABLY IN THE PRESS BEFORE ANY APPROACH IS
MADE TO THE CHINESE. THIS WOULD PROVIDE A SUITABLE HANDLE FOR
DISCUSSIONS.
4. SUBJECT TO YOUR AND PEKING'S VIEWS, GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD ASK
LATTER TO SPEAK ON THE BASIS OF THE DRAFT AT A TIME TO BE AGREED.
WILSON