CONFIDENTIAL
(13)
074600
MDLIAN 5641
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 434
OF 0912OOZ FEBRUARY 89
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
ECVII'S
J
MK POBLIGORY
Q DIST?
1 ON 3 FEBRUARY LI RUOHE OF NCNA GAVE DEPUTY POLITICAL ADVISER A FORMAL RESPONSE ON ECVIIS. TEXT OF HIS SPEAKING NOTE, TO WHICH HE DID NOT ADD ANY FURTHER COMMENTS, IS AS FOLLOWS:
WITH REGARD TO THE CHINA (VRRC), WE WOULD
1.
ISSUE OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES RESETTLED IN LIKE TO CONVEY THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE:
ACCORDING TO THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENT, MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO PREVENT MORE VRRC FROM COMING TO HK.
2. WE HAVE TAKEN NOTE AND ALSO UNDERSTOOD THE HK GOVERNMENT'S REQUEST THAT THOSE VRRC BE REPATRIATED AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE TIME.
3. WE AGREE TO ACCEPT BACK THOSE VRRC. HOWEVER, IT IS NECESSARY TO HAVE THEM VERIFIED BEFORE THEIR REPATRIATION. CHINESE DEPARTMENTS
CONCERNED ARE CONSIDERING THE RELEVANT ARRANGEMENTS AND WILL INFORM YOUR SIDE IN DUE COURSE.
4.
WITH REGARD TO HK GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSAL TO SEND A MISSION TO GUANGXI FOR TALKS, THE CHINESE SIDE DOES NOT SEE THE NEED FOR THAT.
5. THE COASTAL AREAS IN SOUTH CHINA PROVIDE MINIMUM SUPPLY TO
THOSE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE PASSING BY. THIS IS PURELY OUT OF HUMANITARIAN CONSIDERATIONS. WE DO NOT KNOW THEIR DESTINATION, ALONE FACILITATING THEIR PASSAGE TO HK.
LET
2. DPA RESPONDED BY THANKING THE CHINESE FOR THE MEASURES TAKEN. THE FLOW HAD CEASED FOR THE MOMENT, WHICH WAS A SOURCE OF RELIEF TO US. HE ALSO OFFERED THANKS FOR THE CLEAR STATEMENT THAT CHINA WOULD
ACCEPT BACK ALL THE ECVIIS. HE NOTED THAT THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES
WISHED TO GO THROUGH THE VERIFICATION PROCEDURES. DUE TO THE LACK
OF NEW ARRIVALS THE PROBLEM HAD NOT DEVELOPED INTO THE CRISIS WE
HAD ORIGINALLY FEARED POSSIBLE. WE WERE THEREFORE SOMEWHAT MORE RELAXED ABOUT HAVING TO DO THROUGH THE VERIFICATION PROCEDURES.
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