RESTRICTED
167760 MDHIAN 88
6. THE LAST TWO INCIDENTS WERE RAISED WITH THE CHINESE BY THE POLICE BORDER LIAISON OFFICER ON 29 AUGUST. AN EXPLANATION HAS NOT YET BEEN FORTHCOMING.
COMMENT
7. IT IS OF CONSIDERABLE CONCERN TO US IF OUR MAJOR TRADE ROUTES ARE SEEN TO BE VULNERABLE TO ARBITRARY INTERFERENCE BUT THERE IS LITTLE WE CAN DO IF INCIDENTS TAKE PLACE OUTSIDE OUR
JURISDICTION.
8. WE SPECULATE THAT CHINESE SECURITY FORCES ARE SEEKING TO DISCOURAGE VIETNAMESE SHIPS FROM ENGAGING IN SMUGGLING ELECTRICAL GOODS (TVS, VCRS, ETC.) EITHER INTO SOUTHERN CHINESE PORTS, OR, HAVING LANDED THESE IN VIETNAM, SMUGGLING ACROSS THE SINO- VIETNAMESE BORDER. WE ARE UNSURE WHETHER LOCAL CHINESE SECURITY FORCES ARE WORKING UNDER CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ORDERS OR SEEKING TO CASH IN ON BOUNTY ARRANGEMENTS WHEN SMUGGLING GOODS ARE SEIZED.
HENCE OUR DESIRE FOR OFFICIAL CHINESE CLARIFICATION.
9. WE UNDERSTOOD THAT HMA HANOI HAS BEEN SUMMONED TO SEE MFA AT 01070OZ. WE HAVE ADVISED HANOI THAT MFA SHOULD SEEK CLARIFICATION FROM PRC AUTHORITIES. WE AWAIT HANOI'S READ-OUT FOLLOWING HMA'S MEETING.
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MAIN
32
HKD
SEAD
FED
AMD
SIR J COLES
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DISTRIBUTION
32
MR HUM
MR MASEFIELD MR BONE