CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
HKD 243/8
шко
RECEIVES
RENKTRY
- 7 JUL 1988
TOP COPY Q DIST 7
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2593
OF 06113OZ JULY 88
PA
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, WASHINGTON, HANOI
+63
030052
MDLIAN 0681
MIPT: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE : COASTHOPPING TO SOUTH CHINA
TEXT OF DRAFT SPEAKING NOTE IS AS FOLLOWS:
BEGINS
(A) GRATEFUL FOR THE UNDERSTANDING OF HONG KONG'S NEW POLICY SHOWN
IN MEETINGS BETWEEN SECRETARY OF STATE AND QIAN QICHEN: MISS BAILES
AND WANG JIAJI : AND LORD GLENARTHUR AND QIAN QICHEN.
(B) ALARMING TREND IN NUMBER OF ARRIVALS CONTINUES UNABATED (SEE
BACK GROUND NOTES).
(C) INFORMATION FROM LATEST ARRIVALS SUGGESTS THAT VIETNAMESE BOAT
PEOPLE ARE STILL RECEIVING ASSISTANCE FROM LOCAL PEOPLE AND OFFICIALS
WHEN CALLING IN AT PLACES ON THE CHINA COAST EN ROUTE TO HONG KONG
(SEE BACK GROUND NOTES). IT IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE THAT PROSPECTIVE
EMIGRANTS FROM VIETNAM SHOULD NOT SET OUT IN EXPECTATION OF AN EASY PASSAGE. ALSO IMPORTANT THAT THE REALITY OF THE NEW POLICY IS BROUGHT HOME TO THEM AT EARLIEST MOMENT, I.E. AT FIRST LANDFALL IN CHINA.
(D) HOPE THAT PORT AUTHORITIES ARE BEING ASKED TO TELL THE BOAT
PEOPLE THAT THERE IS NO CHANNEL FOR RESETTLEMENT VIA HONG KONG AND
THAT ARRIVALS WILL BE TREATED AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND RETURNED TO VIETNAM.
(E) WE REALISE THAT THE CHINESE CANNOT FORCE THE BOAT PEOPLE TO
RETURN TO VIETNAM BUT WE SHOULD NEVERTHELESS BE GRATEFUL FOR THE
STRONGEST ENCOURAGEMENT IN THIS DIRECTION.
•
·
(F) WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR INFORMATION FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES ON
REACTIONS OF BOAT PEOPLE TO NEW POLICY.
(G) WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY INFORMATION ABOUT BOATS CURRENTLY IN
CHINESE PORTS INTENDING TO COME TO HONG KONG.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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