107
RESTRICTED
FM HANOI
TO TELELETTER HONG KONG
TELELETTER
OF 10010OZ JULY 86
HKK 243/9
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
2 1 JUL 1986
PICER
PA
REGISTRY Aman Taken
Л
FROM M J H WOOD ESQ., HANOI
FOR C T WODD ESQ. GOVT., SECT., HONG KONG
COP-LED S T NASH ESQ.,
SEAD., FCO
MISS D WALKER, UKMIS., GENEVA
74
HONG KONG TELNO 1970 TO FCO : VIETNAM REFUGEES
1.
THE FACTORS QUOTED IN TUR CALL FOR SOME LOCAL COMMENT :
A. WE DO NOT THINK THIS IS REALISTIC.
EXIST.
THE STATE DOES NOT TAX DIRECTLY,
TAX AS SUCH DOES NOT
WHAT HAPPENS IS THE
STATE CONTRACTS WITH THE COOPERATIVE FOR THE COOPERATIVE TO PROVIDE
AN AMOUNT OF RICE AGAINST GENERAL SERVICES EG POWER, WATER
ROADS, MIN OF AGRIC SERVICES FOR PEST CONTROL, PESTICIDES AND FERTILISERS. THE COOPERATIVE CONTRACTS WITH THE PEASANT
FARMER TO PRODUCE AN AMOUNT OF RICE ADDING ON A PERCENTAGE OF ITS
OWN GROUP COSTS, ROADS, HEALTH, EDUCATION SEMI COLON
WHATEVER REMAINS IS THE PEASANT'S TO SELL ON THE FREE MARKET.
THE SYSTEM HAS HELPED TO BOOST PADDY PRODUCTION A GREAT DEAL.
BUT THE AMOUNT VARIES FROM COOPERATIVE TO COOPERATIVE, FROM PEASANT TO PEASANT. AND THE INPUTS THE PEASANT NEEDS, PARTICULARLY FERTILISER AND PESTICIDES HAVE TO BE PAID FOR SOMEHOW.
A VERY FEW COOPERATIVES PRODUCE 10 HONS PER HECTARE PA., BUT MOST
PRODUCE AROUND 4 - 5 TONS PER HECTARE PA,, FROM TWO CROPS. MANY
PRODUCE LESS THAN THIS. THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE THE EARLY
1980'S AND THERE ARE NO SIGNS THE QUOTA WAS SIGNIFICANTLY
MNCREASED IN 1985 THOUGH IT IS OF COURSE INCREASED ANNUALLY
AS ARE THE INPUTS.
=
B. WE HAVE NOT HEARD THIS BUT IT IS QUITE LIKELY TO BE TRUE.
IRONIC THAT VIETNAMESE ATTEMPTS TO TIGHTEN UP ON MOVEMENTS OF
BOATS SHOULD ENCOURAGE MORE TO LEAVE.
C. AGAIN, I HAVE NOT HEARD THIS. THE PENAL CODE AS YOU KNOW
SPECIFIES PUNISHMENT FOR ILLEGAL DEPARTURE. 1 HAVE NEVER HEARD
OF VÒNG BI ĐỂ ĐONG TRIỂN THERE IS A UONG BI BUT IT IS
NEAR HAIPHONG AND A DONG HOI IN THE CENTRAL REGION (AS WELL AS DONG HA). I AM SCEPTICAL ABOUT THIS ACCUSATION.
D.
THIS IS NONSENSE. VIETNAMESE ARE SLIPPING VOLUNTARILY INTO CAMBODIA (PROBABLY THEY ARE ACTUALLY RETURNING
HAVING FLED DURING POL POTS TIME) BECAUSE THEY CAN DO BETTER THERE.
E. UNTRUE. PRICES WERE ALSO RESET AFTER THE CURRENCY CHANGE AND EXPRESSED IN NEW DONG IE AT 1/10TH OF THEIR OLD VALUE. ALTHOUGH PRICES ALSO ROSE DRAMATICALLY OVER A PERIOD OF 6 MONTHS OR SO DEPRECIATION WAS NOTHING LIKE 90 PERCENT.
F.
UNTRUE. TYPHOONS KILLED 1000 AND HIT ONLY LOW GRADE CROPS IN BINH TEL, THIEN PROVINCE WHICH SPANS THE OLD MACNAMARA LINE (THE 17TH PARALLEL). THIS IS NOT A MAJOR PADDY PRODUCING
PROVINCE AND CERTAINLY HAD NO EFFECT ON NORTHERNERS. TYPHOONS
EALIER IN THE SEASON DID RESULT IN LOSSES IN THANH HOA PROVINCE
BUT LOCAL REPORTS INDICATE SHORTAGES THERE WERE TEMPORARY.
2.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ''REFUGEES'' WILL SAY ANYTHING TO PUT
THEIR OWN FLIGHT FROM VIETNAM IN A BETTER LIGHT. THE
DIFFICULTY OF MAKING A GOOD LIVING HERE MEANS THEY WILL AUTOMATICALLY CLAIM CONDITIONS ARE WORSE THAN NORMAL OR THAT THEY ARE LEAVING BECAUSE OF POLITICAL REPRESSION,
M JH WOOD
YYYY
FCO PASS HONG KONG, UKMIS GENEVA
HEMPAN 0918
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