5040/25
CONFIDENTIAL
114624
MDLIAN 5759
4.
PEOPLE TO GIVE THEM THE NAMES AND
VIETNAM SO THAT THE CHINESE COULD
THEIR SAFE ARRIVAL IN CHINA FOR A
KONG.
ADDRESSES OF RELATIVES IN
SEND RADIO MESSAGES ABOUT
CONTINUED JOURNEY TO HONG
IN GENERAL THERE IS GROWING PUBLIC RESENTMENT HERE TOWARDS THE
BOAT PEOPLE. A SURVEY PUBLISHED BY THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
ON 25 JULY SHOWED THAT 73 PERCENT OF HONG KONG PEOPLE WERE AGAINST
ALLOWING VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE TO LAND IN THE TERRITORY. THIS
REFLECTS A HARDENING OF OPINION SINCE APRIL WHEN A SIMILAR SURVEY
PUT THE FIGURE AT 65 PERCENT.
+
5. THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM IS OF COURSE THAT THE NUMBER OF ARRIVALS
FROM VIETNAM WILL EXCEED HONG KONG'S CAPACITY TO PROVIDE SECURE
TYPHOON-PROOF CAMPS MANNED BY A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF TRAINED STAFF.
WE ARE ALREADY BEGINNING TO FEEL THE CRUNCH.
6.
IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES THE PROBLEM OF COAST-HOPPING BECOMES EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANT. THE KNOWLEDGE THAT AN EASY ROUTE EXISTS
UNDOUBTEDLY ENCOURAGES THE ORGANISERS OF THE TRAFFIC. WE SHOULD BE
GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD AGREE THAT THE EMBASSY SHOULD URGENTLY
REITERATE OUR CONCERN TO THE CHINESE AND ASK THEM TO INSTRUCT THE
LOCAL AUTHORITIES THAT VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE HELPED
TO GET TO HONG KONG. AT THE SAME TIME WE WOULD ASK THAT CHINESE
OFFICIALS IN THE SOUTHERN PORTS SHOULD PASS ON THE TEXT OF THE
MESSAGE IN MIFT WITH THE PLAINEST POSSIBLE ADVICE THAT VIETNAMESE
BOAT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT PROCEED HERE.
·
7 WE REALISE THAT THE MATTER HAS BEEN RAISED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE.
(WE OURSELVES ARE KEEPING UP THE PRESSURE ON NCNA HERE.) BUT THE
SERIOUSNESS OF THE SITUATION JUSTIFIES ANOTHER APPROACH IN PEKING.
THE CENTRAL AUTHORITIES ARE BEST PLACED TO APPRECIATE THE
IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROBLEMS FOR CHINA AND AS IN THE CASE OF ECVIIS
IN 1987, TO SEE THAT ACTION IS TAKEN LOCALLY. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO FOCUS THEIR CONCERN AND UNDERSTANDING MORE SHARPLY, NOT ONLY ON THE RATHER IMPRECISE POSSIBILITY OF THE EFFECTS STILL LINGERING
AFTER 1997 BUT ON THE IMMEDIATE RISKS TO HONG KONG. THESE INCLUDE
THE STRAIN ON RESOURCES (IN MONEY AND MANPOWER) AND THE LIKELIHOOD
OF DAMAGE TO THE INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL REPUTATION OF HONG KONG.
THAT IN TURN WOULD AT THE LEAST HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON PUBLIC
CONFIDENCE WHICH MUST BE UNWELCOME TO THE PRC.
FORD
2
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL