RESTRICTED
FM HANOI
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 183
OF 180505Z MAY 88
•
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
HUD 24318
RESTRICTED
177
025171
MDHIAN 9812
TOP COPY O & DIST
139
YOUR TELNO 194: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
(40)
HEAD OF EUROPE II
I RAISED THE MATTER YESTERDAY WITH PHUONG DEPARTMENT MFA, RATHER THAN WITH CONSULAR DEPT IN ORDER TO EMPH- ASISE THE POLITICAL SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEM. I SPOKE ON THE
LINES OF THE NOTE IN YOUR TELNO 115.
2. PHUONG WAS FULLY CONVERSANT WITH THE SUBJECT BUT SEEMED
SURPRISED AT THE FIGURES. HE MADE THE STANDARD POINT ABOUT
THE ECONOMIC SITUATION AND THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF ADEQUATELY
POLICING VIETNAM'S LAND AND SEA BORDERS. HE THEN ATTEMPTED
TO ARGUE THAT THE NEW INFLUX COMPRISED VIETNAMESE OF
CHINESE STOCK WHO WERE NOW GOING TO HONG KONG AFTER SEVERAL
YEARS IN CHINA I DISABUSED HIM OF THIS NOTION AND GAVE HIM
SOME OF THE DETAILS IN HONG KONG TELNO 1464 TO YOU. HE LOOKED
GENUINELY PUZZLED AND SAID THAT HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND HOW
SO MANY BOATS COULD BE MAKING THE JOURNEY, PARTICULARLY FROM
CENTRAL VIETNAM IN WINTER AGAINST THE PREVAILING WIND. HE
WAS CLEARLY INCLINED TO SEE A CHINESE HAND IN THIS BUT DID NOT
SEEK TO MAKE MUCH OF IT.
3. I REHEARSED THE POINTS AGAIN AND PHUONG PROMISED TO PASS THEM ON.
4. IT IS MY INTENTION TO RAISE THE MATTER AGAIN DURING
VARIOUS CALLS (INCLUDING WITH LUCK SOME ON SENIOR FIGURES)
I HOPE TO MAKE BEFORE I GO ON MID-TOUR LEAVE ON 13 JUNE.
DAVIES
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