TNAG-0890-FCO40-1100-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 272

布政司署

香港下亞畢道

**** Our Ref.:

* YOUR Ref.:

CONFIDENTIAL

Тонн

GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD

HONG KONG

HKK 243 1 6 June, 1979

ESK

J20.6

2.

v2/vi

Mr Murray

Mr Warkins, defencity?

Quahrquí 14/6

Mr Q

Mr Williamson

81576

RJ McLaren Esq

Hong Kong & General Departme

F C/O

شده

3

P...

OPERATIONS BY RN VESSELS OUTSIDE HONG KONG WATERS

I should explain why we were caught with our

slip showing over a couple of telegrams.

(852)

89

2.

Hong Kong telegram no 695 of 31 May, asking, for agreement for the Navy to operate in Chinese waters west of Lantau, was sent without having been seen by myself, or the Governor. Hong Kong telegram no 708 of 1 June was sent as a corrective. In fact, I think it would be highly risky to attempt to carry out anti- Chinese illegal immigrant operations in the Pearl River area, or to station a RN patrol vessel there. Even if the Chinese did not object to its presence (which they probably would), they would almost certainly, and legitimately, object if it ever tried to stop a Chinese boat in that area. I am less than certain that there would be any objection to a RN vessel escorting a Vietnamese boat on tow back to Macau. However, the Governor feels that it would be a waste of our very scarce resources to use a RN patrol craft for such a purpose at present. We have tried towing out one or two Vietnamese boats which clearly came from Macau in the past. It has not been successful. again. Even though we are unlikely to succeed in our objective, such action would have the effect of demonstrating how Macau simply pushes boats on to us; it would also help to assure public opinion that we are trying to do something about the problem, even if we fail.

We intend to try

leves

(D C Wilson)

сс RC Samuel Esq

Far Eastern Department,

CONFIDENTIAL