CONFIDENTIAL
1552
MDHIAN 0841
FOR THE SAKE OF UK/HONG KONG RELATIONS.
-
3. IN ANY EVENT, GIVEN THE SPIRIT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S AND QIAN'S RELATIONS AND THE NUMBER OF DIFFICULT HONG KONG ISSUES WE HAVE ON OUR PLATES AT THE MOMENT WHICH MAKES IT OF SOME IMPORTANCE TO AVOID UNNECESSARY IRRITATION I THINK THE TONE OF ANY LETTER SHOULD BE MUCH MORE FRIENDLY AND CONSTRUCTIVE. SOME OF THE FOLLOWING CHANGES TO THE DRAFT IN SECOND TUR ARE SUGGESTED WITH THIS IN MIND, OTHERS FOR CLARITY'S SAKE:
(A) PARA 2: FIRST SENTENCE: SUBSTITUTE
''PROBLEM''.
'SITUATION'' FOR
(B) PARA 2: RUN SECOND AND THIRD SENTENCES TOGETHER TO READ ''OVER TWO THOUSAND BOAT PEOPLE ..... SO FAR THIS YEAR, AN INCREASE OF 120 PER CENT OVER THE SAME PERIOD IN 1988
(C) PARA 2: FOURTH SENTENCE: THIS MIGHT BE PREFACED BY
''WITH
THE SEASONAL IMPROVEMENT IN WEATHER CONDITIONS' TO EXPLAIN WHY WE EXPECT A MAJOR NEW INFLUX IN THE COMING MONTHS.
(D) PARA 4: LAST SENTENCE: THIS MIGHT ALSO REFER TO THE EFFORTS HKG ARE MAKING THROUGH THEIR OWN BROADCASTS TO VIETNAM.
-
(E) PARA 5: I THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BEGIN WITH AN EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE FOR THE UNDERSTANDING THE CENTRAL IF NOT THE PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES HAVE EXPRESSED AND THE EFFORTS THEY SAY THEY HAVE MADE TO DETER COAST HOPPERS. THIS MIGHT READ ''I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE UNDERSTANDING THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES HAVE SHOWN FOR THESE POINTS AND THE EFFORTS THEY HAVE MADE IN RECENT MONTHS TO DETER VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE FROM CONTINUING THEIR JOURNEYS TO HONG KONG. BUT, IN THE LIGHT OF THE GROWING NUMBERS DOING SO, I SHOULD NOW LIKE TO SUGGEST A FURTHER SPECIFIC MEASURE
ETC''.
(F) PARA 5: SECOND SENTENCE: ''THE TIME HAS COME' STRIKES A
SOMEWHAT DICTATORIAL NOTE, A POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE MIGHT BE ''THE SITUATION HAS NOW DETERIORATED TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES SHOULD BE PREPARED TO CONSIDER
ACCEPTING ..... ETC''.
(G) PARA 5: THIRD SENTENCE: THIS MIGHT BETTER READ 'I WOULD
EARNESTLY ASK YOU TO AGREE TO TREAT SUCH PEOPLE
ETC.
PAGE 2 CONFIDENTIAL