TNAG-1797-FCO40-2557-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 185

CONFIDENTIAL

849

Mr Pa

Paúl,

ME PAÓ1, HKD

ніко 24318

Poli

Curden

8177

dais

Wietnamese Boat People

On his return from Africa the Secretary of State has seen Hong Kong telno 3504 reporting Chinese comments on the change of policy in Hong Kong towards Vietnamese boat people. He finds the whole thing very surprising. We did give the Chinese warning of our change of policy. The Secretary of State himself spoke to Foreign Minister Qian in New York. The Chinese appeared to understand and support the change. So why now have they changed their tune? The Secretary of State wonders if this is something he should take up when he sees Qian in New York next week.

20 September 1988

CC:

PS/Lord Glenarthur Mr Gillmore

Mr McLaren

Lib

(R N Peirce)

CONFIDENTIAL

Mc Han

I are covering This in the brief

W/22/1