CONFIDENTIAL
SCR 45/64 II
HKK 345/330/1
15 December, 1977
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HE Mr R M Tesh CMG HANOT
No isa &
А
Jery
recexualle
VISAS FOR VIETNAMESE
AST
summary. hat us hope that this Plaxisle attitude manifests itself in practice.
Having now had time to read through the
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correspondence on Hong Kong and Vietnam, I think it might be helpful if I made some general comments on the exchange of letters between you and Charles Drace-Francis (who has now left) which rests with your letter of 10 November about "Visas for Vietnamese".
2.
As I see it, the general considerations which affect Hong Kong's attitude towards Vietnam are as follows:-
:3),
(1) The China Angle. We know from a variety of sources
that the Chinese are having difficulty in their relations with the Vietnamese. There seem to be two sources of friction. one arises from national and geographical problems such as rival claims to islands in the South China Seas and border problems. The other arises from China's almost paranoid fear about Soviet influence in Vietnam. Personally I think that Chinese fears on the latter score are exaggerated. Nevertheless, there can be little doubt that they exist and I have seen no evidence to suggest that they have diminished. It might be argued that Le Duan's visit to Peking marks an improvement in relations. I have not yet seen any diplomatic reporting on the visit, but my impression from here is that all did not go smoothly. Furthermore, Ch'en Yung-kuei's recent visit to Kampuchea, including its eastern regions, can hardly have helped Sino-Vietnamese relations. Chinese fears about Vietnam are something which we need to take careful account of in all our decisions about Vietnamese activities and presence in Hong Kong.
(2) The Hong Kong Security Angle. Our Special Branch is
already stretched looking after various priority targets in Hong Kong, including not only our own local communists but also potentially troublesome visitors
CONFIDENTIAL
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