CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 060100Z HONG KONG
TELNO 1201
OF 051915Z JUNE 89
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD
MIPT: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:
STATEMENT TO EXCO
THE FOREIGN SECRETARY HAS ASKED ME TO LET YOU KNOW THAT HE HAS RECEIVED YOUR URGENT APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE UK TO HELP COPE WITH THE BOAT PEOPLE CRISIS AND HAS DRAWN IT TO THE
ATTENTION OF THE PRIME MINISTER.
HE AND THE PRIME MINISTER ARE ACUTELY CONSCIOUS OF THE VERY GRAVE SITUATION WHICH HONG KONG IS FACING. THEY ARE WELL AWARE THAT THIS IS IMPOSING AN INTOLERABLE BURDEN ON HONG KONG. THEY HAVE ASKED ME TO REASSURE YOU THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY POSSIBLY CAN TO RELIEVE THE PRESSURE ON THE
TERRITORY.
AS YOU WILL KNOW FROM THE PRESS, THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE FOREIGN SECRETARY HAVE PERSONALLY URGED PRESIDENT BUSH AND SECRETARY BAKER TO SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS TO STOP THE OUTFLOW AND TO SECURE THE EARLY RETURN OF ALL NON-REFUGEES. THE HAVE ALSO IMPRESSED UPON THEM THE NEED FOR THE EARLY ESTABLISHMENT OF A REGIONAL HOLDING CENTRE FOR REFUGEES. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ARE
DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO GET AGREEMENT TO SUCH A CENTRE.
IN RESPONSE TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL'S APPEAL THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ARE PROVIDING HONG KONG WITH IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF 100 TENTS TO ACCOMMODATE 2,000 BOAT PEOPLE. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAVE ALSO DECIDED TO CONTRIBUTE 4 MILLION POUNDS TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FOR THE COST OF MAKING ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE FOR 7,000 VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE AT LEI YUE MUN.
THE FOREIGN SECRETARY HAS DRAWN THE ATTENTION OF THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE SITUATION FACING HONG KONG AND HAS URGED CHINA TO TAKE EFFECTIVE MEASURES TO CUT OFF THE FLOW OF BOAT PEOPLE ARRIVING IN THE TERRITORY.
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