RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO
1198
OF 150245Z APRIL 89
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
RESTRICTED
HKD 243/9
752
155256
MDLIAN 3274
Q DA
NCNA COMMENTARY ON VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
TA KUNG PAO AND WEN WEI PO OF 13 APRIL CARRIED AN NCNA COMMENTARY FILED FROM HONG KONG ON VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE. THIS SAID THAT IF THE PRESENT LOW REPATRIATION RATE OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE TO VIETNAM CONTINUED, NOT ALL VBPS STRANDED IN HONG KONG WOULD BE SENT BACK TO VIETNAM BEFORE 1997. THUS THE SARG GOVERNMENT WOULD BE LEFT TO CARRY THE BURDEN.
2. THE ARTICLE SAID THAT A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CHINESE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS HAD REITERATED CHINA'S STANCE ON THE ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES. IT HAD BEEN STRESSED THAT IF THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE RESOLVED IN TIME, IT WOULD AFFECT THE SMOOTH TRANSITION OF THE TERRITORY'S SOVEREIGNTY IN 1997. THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT ACCORDING TO THE SINO BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION, VBPS AND THEIR CHILDREN IN HONG KONG SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN THE RIGHT OF ABODE.
3.
THE ARTICLE CONTINUED THAT MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG, INCLUDING EXCO AND LEGCO MEMBERS AND HIGH LEVEL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, HOPED THAT MORE POSITIVE STEPS COULD BE TAKEN ON THE POLICY OF INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION. IT ALSO NOTED THAT VIETNAM'S ATTITUDE PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART IN RESOLVING THE PROBLEM.
COMMENT : NCNA HAVE TAKEN UP VARIOUS ISSUES IN THE PAST BY WRITING COMMENTARIES. IT IS INTERESTING THAT ON THIS OCCASSION
ONLY THE TWO LEFT WING NEWSPAPERS HAVE CARRIED THE ARTICLE.
WILSON
YYYY
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