TNAG-1976-FCO40-2809-Hong-Kong-illegal-immigrants-from-China--originally-Vietname-1989 — Page 30

ROYAKX

CONFIDENTIAL

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:

COAST HOPPING DRAFT MESSAGE FROM

THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO QIAN QICHEN

When we met in Tokyo on 24 February we discussed the serious

problem of Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong. Since then, the

situation has deteriorated. More than 2,400 boat people have

arrived in Hong Kong so far this year, over double the level for the

same period in 1988. Unless urgent steps are taken, many thousands

more will arrive in the coming months when weather conditions favour the journey from Vietnam. This is a prospect which I and the

Governor of Hong Kong view with deep concern.

It is a fact that most of the boat people now in Hong Kong

have been helped in the course of their journey at points along the

Chinese coast. Without such assistance, they could not have reached

the territory, and Hong Kong would not have the problem which it now

faces.

I am well aware of the difficulties which the Chinese

authorities face in discouraging such assistance and am grateful

for the measures already taken. It is however clear from

information obtained from recent Vietnamese arrivals in Hong Kong that help is still being given. We are passing detailed information

on cases of this sort through the Embassy in Peking and through the

NCNA in Hong Kong.

We have recently suggested a number of steps which might be

taken by the Chinese authorities. These include issuing

instructions to officials in the ports concerned that boat people

should not be given assistance to continue their journey to Hong

Kong and that they should be warned of Hong Kong's firm policy of

screening and detention, pending repatriation to Vietnam. We have also suggested that it might be useful if Chinese broadcasts aimed at Vietnam could convey a similar message.

The seriousness of the situation in Hong Kong now calls for

further joint efforts to stem the flow of boat people. I believe

that the time has come for China to accept responsibility for those

CONFIDENTIAL

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