SECRET
67
143216
MDHIAN 1684
HKB 243/13
SCEIVER IN
Y
11 JUL 1990
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1648
OF 23014OZ MAY 90
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
INFO ROUTINE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
56
62
YRTELNO 949: OUR TELNO 1576: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:
MANDATORY REPATRIATION
1. THE EXCHANGES ON THIS PROPOSAL REST WITH OUR ASSESSMENT IN SECOND TUR. WE WILL NOT TAKE ACTION WITH THE NCNA UNTIL
SPECIFICALLY INSTRUCTED TO DO SO.
2. YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THROUGH OUR INTERPOL LINK, THE CHINESE HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGING US TO PROVIDE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOAT- BUYING ARRANGEMENTS ON THE PEARL RIVER ESTUARY. WE HAVE BEEN PASSING ON THIS INFORMATION AND THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES HAVE ASSURED US THAT THEY ARE TAKING FIRM ACTION TO STOP THE SALE OF BOATS TO VIETNAMESE HEADING FOR HONG KONG. THEY HAVE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT WE MIGHT LIKE TO CONSIDER THE IDEA OF RETURNING RECENT ARRIVALS TO VIETNAM VIA CHINA. WE BELIEVE THAT IN MAKING THIS PROPOSAL THE CHINESE POLICE AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT CLEARED THEIR LINES IN PEKING. WE HAVE NOT ENCOURAGED THEM ON THIS PROPOSAL BUT
NOR HAVE WE TURNED IT DOWN.
3. IN DECIDING HOW TO PROCEED WITH THE PROPOSAL IN FIRST TUR, MINISTERS MIGHT LIKE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THIS LATEST DEVELOPMENT.
FORD
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
127
ΜΑΙΝ
117
•
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
RMD
LIMITED
PS
HKD
SEAD
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/MR SAINSBURY
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