SECRET
[VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE : MANDATORY REPATRIATION]
8/5
52
1.
This comes into the category of measures which the Chinese could take if they were really disposed to help. Others include establishing a holding centre in Chinese territory for new arrivals or for the screened-out; intercepting land-crossers en route for Hong Kong and returning them to Vietnam; and more effective steps to prevent local Chinese officials from facilitating boat journeys up the China coast.
2.
I doubt whether the Chinese will see any more attraction in this idea (which has been considered before) than they have done in any of the other suggestions which have been put to them. I do not interpret Chen Ziying's most recent statements to Sir A Donald as any advance on what the Chinese have said previously. What he was saying, in effect, was that China would support mandatory repatriation (or indeed ending of first asylum). He was not indicating that the Chinese
On the contrary, intend to do anything further themselves. his thesis was that the Chinese were already doing "their utmost" to prevent VBPS from going to Hong Kong through China. That is not to say that we should not make further efforts to encourage the Chinese in a practical dialogue about the VBP problem. This is probably best done in Hong Kong in the first instance, in contacts between the Political Adviser's office and NCNA.
HKB 243 113
MISTRY
17 MAY 1990
Windm
4 May 1990
Cc: Mr Gillmore
Mr Davies, FED
Mr Brenton, UND
Mr Stone, HKD
Mr Bruce, SEAD
Mr Whitehead, News Dept
Mr Haswell, HKD
M14ABB
SECRET
RJT McLaren