TNAG-1528-FCO40-2092-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1986 — Page 78

سم عقلی و گار

CONFIDENTIAL

100

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

R G Tallboys Esq CMG OBE

HANOI

нии гиз / 3ёл

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

Des

17 JUN 1986

FICER

REGISTRY

9 June 1986

Dear Richal

PA

Action Taken

letter

copy

121

thi o Mr. T's

khki

I the

VIETNAM: THE CHINESE PRESENCE

L. Thank you for your letter of 2 May. I agree with you that we should keep an eye on the Chinese presence in Vietnam. As Vietnam's historical enemy and neighbour, China will continue to loom large in Vietnamese affairs. Certainly the presence of 26 Chinese diplomats in Hanoi indicates that they have not downgraded their Embassy or their interest.

2.

Given the important refugee angle, I have copied your letter and this one to Hong Kong. It is clearly not in our

interest to see a further exodus of Sino-Vietnamese from Vietnam, as this would no doubt involve a further embarkation in the direction of Hong Kong. I understand that currently very few of the refugees reaching Hong Kong are Chinese. During 1985, according to Hong Kong Government statistics, only 23 of the 1,112 refugees who arrived in the colony were Chinese - 13 from the south and 10 from the north. Apart from basic human rights considerations, it is in our interest to maintain pressure on the Vietnamese to treat their minorities, including the important Chinese minority, in a humane fashion, so that a further mass exodus does not occur. Our statements at the UN Commission of Human Rights on such matters are designed to serve this purpose. Also, if we wish to develop UK trade with Vietnam, be it direct or through Hong Kong, it would appear to be in our interest to ensure that a Chinese merchant class remains there.

are Mey still engaged in the suit & trade that would in beet Uke?

3. I would like some time to hear your assessment of Sino-Vietnamese relations in general. It seems that strained relations between Vietnam and China tend to serve ASEAN's and the West's interest. It also suits the Soviet Union whose base facilities in Vietnam could be jeopardised. That said, there is clearly no virtue in physical insecurity on the Sino-Vietnamese border, although tensions there appear to have settled down to an acceptable pattern. A "second lesson" by the Chinese currently looks unlikely.

Yours Ever

Christion

CC W Adams

y

proche- ent.