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FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1217
OF 230718Z JULY 93
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RECEMOS
1993
INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON, PEKING
COTRY
CISTRY on Taken
ра
سعر
101545
MDLIAN 7020
file
TOP COPY Q DIST?
CHAIN/U S: SMUGGLING OF CHINESE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS (II'S)
SUMMARY
GROWING U S CONCERN EXPRESSED HERE ABOUT SMUGGLING OF CHINESE II'S. CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE US AND HONG KONG HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE, WITHOUT SO FAR CONFIRMING ANY MAJOR HONG KONG ROLE IN THIS TRAFFIC. IMPORTANT THAT OUR COMMITMENT TO HELP REMAINS WELL UNDERSTOOD IN WASHINGTON.
DETAIL
2. THE NEW U S CONSUL-GENERAL RECENTLY CALLED ON INSTRUCTIONS ON THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO EXPLAIN US CONCERNS ABOUT THE SMUGGLING OF CHINESE IIS TO THE U S. HE LEFT A SPEAKING NOTE (COPY FOLLOWS BY FAX TO HKD AND WASHINGTON) URGING THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO :
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PREVENT ANY SUSPECTED SMUGGLING SHIPS FROM LEAVING HONG KONG:
DISRUPT THE PLANNING AND PREPARATION OF ANY SMUGGLING OPERATIONS INVOLVING HONG KONG:
TAKE EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT ACTION GENERALLY AGAINST THE SMUGGLERS AND THEIR OPERATIONS.
3.
MUELLER MADE CLEAR THAT THIS WAS PART OF A ROUND ROBIN LOBBYING EXERCISE BEING CARRIED OUT BY US MISSIONS ACROSS THE REGION. THE US HAD NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CO-OPERATION THEY RECEIVED FROM THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OVER II SMUGGLING. ON THE CONTRARY, THEY REGARDED THIS AS EXCELLENT. MUELLER CONFIRMED THIS TO ME SUBSEQUENTLY. I AND THE CHIEF SECRETARY BOTH STRESSED TO HIM OUR COMMITMENT TO GIVING THE US EVERY POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THIS TRAFFICKING.
COMMENT
4. THE AMERICANS BELIEVE THAT SOME OF THE CRIMINAL ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED HAVE HONG KONG CONNECTIONS AND THAT SOME SMUGGLING SHIPS MAY HAVE PASSED THROUGH HONG KONG FOR MODIFICATION AND
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