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SECRET
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2047
OF 27104OZ MAY 88
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKMIS GENEVA
OP
211
057725
MDLIAN 0603
MIPT: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
TEXT OF DRAFT SPEAKING NOTE AS FOLLOWS:
BEGINS
-
REHEARSE PROBLEMS CAUSED TO HONG KONG BY CONTINUING AND MASSIVE INFLUX OF BOAT PEOPLE FROM VIETNAM: OVER 4,500 ARRIVALS SO FAR THIS YEAR: OVER 2400 IN MAY ALONE LARGEST NUMBER IN ANY
ONE MONTH SINCE JULY 1979: ALL (99 PER CENT) ETHNIC VIETNAMESE PREDOMINANTLY (70 PER CENT PLUSE) FROM NORTH VIETNAM, THE REST FROM NORTHERN PART OF SOUTH VIETNAM (DANANG AND HUE AREA): MINIMAL RESETTLEMENT PROSPECTS FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALMOST ALL ECONOMIC MIGRANTS, NOT (NOT) REFUGEES: STRAIN ON HONG KONG'S RESOURCES TO COPE WITH NUMBERS (NEARLY 13,500 NOW IN THE TERRITORY) BOTH IN THE SHORT AND LONGER TERM.
THE ROUTES TAKEN BY THE BOAT PEOPLE TO REACH HONG KONG INVOLVE
COAST-HOPPING UP THE COAST OF CHINA.
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EVIDENCE OF QUITE WIDESPREAD ASSISTANCE TO BOAT PEOPLE BY OFFICIALS AND CITIZENS IN CHINESE COASTAL PORTS: OUT OF 174 BOATS WHICH HAVE ARRIVED SO FAR THIS YEAR, 91 APPEAR CON THE BASIS OF OCCUPANTS' DEBRIEFING) TO HAVE RECEIVED ASSISTANCE RANGING FROM SHELTER, FOOD AND WATER TO NEW ENGINES AND EVEN NEW BOATS, ALL PURCHASED FOR GOLD: PORTS OF BEIHAI AND ZHANJIANG PARTICULARLY FAVOURED: EVIDENCE (WHICH CAN BE PRODUCED) OF OFFICIALS GIVING A FORM OF WRITTEN ''LAISSEZ PASSER'' TO SOME BOATS REQUESTING OTHER PORTS FURTHER ALONG THE ROUTE TO RENDER THE ''REFUGEES'' ASSISTANCE
AND LET THEM PROCEED ON THEIR WAY.
SEEK THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES COOPERATION IN INSTRUCTING THEIR CITIZENS AND OFFICIALS NOT TO OFFER OR PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE AND, INDEED, TO ADVISE THEM STRONGLY NOT TO COME TO HONG KONG WHERE THEY WILL BE TREATED AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND HAVE NO CHANCE OF RESETTLEMENT, BUT RATHER TO RETURN TO VIETNAM.
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