CONFIDENTIAL
001435
MDHIAN 8582
(26
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON
TELNO 1
OF 26110OZ FEBRUARY 90
INFO IMMEDIATE FCO
HKB 243 /13.
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, PEKING
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YOUR TELNO 451 TO FCO: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
1. THE MINISTER RIGHTLY TOLD SOLOMON (PARA 3 OF TUR) THAT WE HAVE PRESSED THE CHINESE REPEATEDLY TO DO MORE. IN CASE THE SUBJECT COMES UP AGAIN YOU MAY WISH TO HAVE ON RECORD THAT :
(A) WE HAVE BEEN PRESSING THE CHINESE HERE AND IN PEKING FOR WELL OVER A YEAR TO TAKE ACTION ON COAST HOPPERS (AND MORE RECENTLY LAND CROSSERS).
(B) I WROTE PERSONALLY TO THE GOVERNOR OF GUANGDONG IN MAY 1989 TO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE AT PROVINCIAL LEVEL IN DETAINING THOSE WHO STOPPED AT CHINESE PORTS EN ROUTE TO HONG KONG, WITH A VIEW TO RETURNING THEM TO VIETNAM.
(C) WHEN I MET LI PENG ON 12 JANUARY I ALSO PRESSED FOR MORE CHINESE ASSISTANCE.
(D) THE POLITICAL ADVISER RAISED THIS MOST RECENTLY WITH QIAN QICHEN WHEN HE TRANSMITTED HONG KONG LATE ON 25 FEBRUARY.
(E) AT WORKING LEVEL WE NOW REGULARLY PASS TO THE CHINESE ALL INFORMATION THAT COMES OUR WAY ON ROUTES USED BY COAST HOPPERS AND LAND CROSSERS IN REACHING HONG KONG VIA CHINA.
2. WE NOW KNOW THAT THE CHINESE ARE INCREASING THEIR CONTROLS TO PREVENT VIETNAMESE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM REACHING HONG KONG VIA THE SINO-VIETNAMESE LAND FRONTIERS. BUT THERE CLEARLY REMAINS A GOOD DEAL MORE THAT THEY COULD DO ON COAST-HOPPERS. WE SHALL CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR THIS.
WILSON
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