The day
425
CONFIDENTIAL
HKD 243/8
005641
MDLIAN 8833
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2503
OF 291030Z JUNE 88
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, WASHINGTON, HANOI
HFB027/1193 невост
PEK ING TELNO 1133: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: COAST
CHINA
-
HOPPING TO SOUTH
I AM GRATEFUL TO LORD GLENARTHUR FOR RAISING WITH THE CHINESE THE PROBLEM OF THE VIETNAMESE COAST HOPPERS. QIAN QICHEN'S RESPONSE
SHOWS THAT THERE IS A WILLINGNESS TO BE HELPFUL IN PEKING. WE NEED
TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS TRANSLATED INTO ACTION IN THE PROVINCES AND THAT THE MESSAGE REALLY GETS THROUGH.
2. SO FAR THE GREAT MAJORITY OF ARRIVALS SINCE 16 JUNE HAVE TENDERED
TO REACT WITH INDIFFERENCE ON BEING TOLD OF THE NEW DETENTION POLICY.
WE ARE OF COURSE ONLY NOW REACHING THE POINT AT WHICH VOYAGES WOULD
HAVE STARTED AFTER 16 JUNE. NEVERTHELESS WE MIGHT BY NOW HAVE
EXPECTED THAT SOME BOAT ARRIVALS WOULD HAVE HEARD OF THE CHANGED
POLICY AT SOME POINT ON THE CHINA COAST. SO FAR THERE HAS BEEN NO INDICATION OF THIS.
3. TWO BOATLOADS WHICH ARRIVED OVER THE WEEKEND OF 25/26 JUNE AND WHICH HAD STOPPED IN CHINA FREQUENTLY EN ROUTE DID, HOWEVER MAKE REPORTS WHICH MIGHT INDICATE A MARGINAL SHIFT IN POLICY:
(I) THE CHINESE OFFICIALS DID NOT PROVIDE THEM WITH ANY REPLENISHME-
NTS, AND THEY HAD TO BUY THEIR FOOD AND FUEL WITH THEIR OWN MEANS:
(II) IN ARRANGING FOR ADDITIONAL VIETNAMESE BOATPEOPLE WHOSE BOATS HAD BEEN WRECKED TO BOARD THE ARRIVING VESSELS, THE CHINESE OFFICIALS WERE LESS ACTIVE AND DID NOT ORDER THE BOAT-MASTER TO TAKE THEM ON, AS HAS BEEN THE CASE ON THE PAST. INSTEAD, THEY OFTEN ARRANGED FOR THE EMBARKATION ONLY OF THOSE WHO HAD OBTAINED THE
CONSENT OF THE BOAT-MASTER OR HAD PAID THE BOAT-MASTER FOR THEIR
JOURNEY. HOWEVER THESE SMALL STRAWS IN THE WIND DO NOT AMOUNT TO
MUCH. WE STILL HAVE NO DIRECT EVIDENCE THAT PEKING HAVE SENT NEW
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE PROVINCES.
4. IF YOU AGREE, I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF THE EMBASSY IN PEKING COULD MAKE ANOTHER APPROACH TO THE MFA ON THE FOLLOWING LINES.
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