CONFIDENTIAL
0330
MDHOAN 303
LAND. SUCH PRESSURE IS UNLIKELY TO PRODUCE EARLY CONCRETE RESULTS, BUT MAY ENCOURAGE THE CHINESE TO STOP PUBLICLY CRITICISING HONG KONG'S POLICY ON BOAT PEOPLE. HMA PEKING WOULD
SEE ZHOU NAN ON 5 MAY. WE WOULD KEEP
UNDER REVIEW THE OPTIONS TO CALL IN THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR WHOM LORD GLENARTHUR SAW LAST WEEK, AND/OR A FURTHER MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER CLOSER TO THE ICIR. WE ARE GIVING FURTHER THOUGHT TO ENSURING THAT THE CHINESE PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE ICIR.
CONTINUING PRESSURE ON VIETNAM : AID.
7. WE SHOULD TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO PRESS THE VIETNAMESE TO STOP ILLEGAL DEPARTURES. WE SHOULD ALSO TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY
TO PRESS THEM TO MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT THAT THEY WILL ACCEPT THE RETURN OF ALL CALL) NON-REFUGEES, AND THAT THEY WILL REMOVE THE OBSTACLES PREVENTING LEGAL DEPARTURES UNDER THE ODP
PROGRAMME.
8. IN THIS CONTEXT WE SHOULD EXPLORE FURTHER
THE SCOPE FOR USING EC AND OTHER MULTILATERAL AID AS A LEVER TO
PERSUADE THE VIETNAMESE TO AGREE TO TAKE BACK ALL NON-REFUGEE BOAT PEOPLE AND NOT JUST VOLUNTEERS. WE WOULD NEED TO CONSIDER CAREFULLY HOW BEST WE CAN GENERATE SUPPORT FOR THIS IDEA AMONGST EC PARTNERS. LINKAGE WITH OUR BILATERAL AID PROGRAMME WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO PROVIDE MUCH LEVERAGE AND WOULD RISK BACK-FIRING. WE WOULD ALSO CONSIDER ASKING THE JAPANESE TO TELL THE VIETNAMESE THAT NO AID WILL BE FORTHCOMING UNLESS THE BOAT PEOPLE PROBLEM IS RESOLVED.
CONTACT WITH THE ASEANS.
9. WE SHOULD KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE ASEANS TO ENSURE THAT
THEIR INTENSE FRUSTRATIONS OVER THE SITUATION ARE HARNESSED TO
OUR OWN.
VISIT BY HOCKE TO THE UK.
10.
HOCKE WILL CALL ON THE PRIME MINISTER, THE SECRETARY OF STATE, LORD GLENARTHUR AND MR EGGAR ON 15 MAY. THE OPPORTUNITY SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PRESS HIM ON THOSE AREAS OF MOST INTEREST TO US.
HOWE
YYYY