CONFIDENTIAL
125036
MDLIAN 993
REACHED BEIHAI ON 8 JANUARY. THEY DID NOT APPARENTLY RECEIVE ASSIST- ANCE FROM CHINESE OFFICIALS BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO REPLENISH THEIR
SUPPLIES AND THEY LEFT BEIHAI ON 23 JANUARY. THEY STOPPED SEVERAL TIMES ALONG THE COAST BEFORE REACHING HONG KONG VIA MACAU ON 15 FEBRUARY. A NUMBER OF THIS GROUP CLAIMED TO HAVE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF
HONG KONG'S SCREENING POLICY DESPITE THE FACT THAT OTHER MEMBERS WERE AWARE OF IT.
(II) THE SECOND GROUP OF 91 LEFT HAIPHONG ON 6 JANUARY AND SAILED
TO BEIHAI. THEY WERE EXAMINED BY CHINESE OFFICIALS WHO INFORMED THEM
OF HONG KONG'S NEW POLICY. THEY DID NOT RECEIVE ASSISTANCE TO REPLENISH THEIR SUPPLIES FROM CHINESE OFFICIALS. THEY LEFT BEIHAI FROM LIUSHA WHERE THEY STAYED UNTIL 5 FEBRUARY. THEIR BOAT WAS
REPAIRED AT LIUSHA. THEY CLAIM TO HAVE PASSED FIVE MORE CHINESE
PORTS BEFORE REACHING HONG KONG VIA MACAU ON 15 FEBRUARY.
(III) MEMBERS OF THESE GROUPS SENT LETTERS FROM CHINA REPORTING THEIR
PROGRESS TO HONG KONG. WE BECAME AWARE OF THEIR IMPENDING ARRIVAL TWO DAYS IN ADVANCE FROM INFORMATION GAINED IN THE CAMPS FROM THESE
LETTERS.
(IV) WE NOTE THAT IN BOTH CASES LOCAL OFFICIALS REFUSED TO PROVIDE
SUPPLIES AND IN ONE CASE CHINESE OFFICIALS APPEAR TO HAVE EXPLAINED HONG KONG'S NEW POLICY. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THIS. WE NOTE THAT
NEVERTHELESS THE GROUPS WERE ALLOWED TO SPEND A LOND PERIOD IN CHINA
IN TRANSIT. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY FURTHER ACTION WHICH THE
CHINESE AUTHORITIES CAN TAKE TO DEFER COAST HOPPING.
(V) WE SHALL IN THE FUTURE PASS TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES SIMILAR
INFORMATION ON THIS SUBJECT AS IT COMES UP.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
92
DISTRIBUTION
98
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
NEWS
PS
PS/LORD
GLENARTHUR
PS/MR PATTEN ODA
PAGE
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CONFIDENTIAL
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