BAGAAJ
Mr Paul, HKD
CONFIDENTIAL
Discussed at this morning's meeting. The Secretary of State would like this
steathered (see amendment for the flavour of it) and shortered.
Private Secretary
MED 243/21
PROMAR Paul
Hong Kong Department DATE : 19 April 1989
cc: PS/Lord Glenarthur
PS/Mr Eggar
Mr Gillmore
Mr McLaren
Mr Thomas, SAED
Mr Brenton, UND
Mr Millington, FED
Miss Marbe Mr foran 124/4
Submissin gut
Mr Haded/21/14
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG
nym 21/4
N
24/4
MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF
STATE TO THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER ON COAST-HOPPING
A
B
1. In your minute of 14 February you recorded that the Secretary of State had agreed with the suggestion in Mr McLaren's minute of 12
April that he should send a message to the Chinese Foreign Minister
about coast-hopping.
2. I submit a draft, which has been cleared with the Hong Kong
Government and the Embassy in Peking and incorporates their drafting
suggestions. The draft could be considered at tomorrow's office
meeting on Vietnamese boat people.
3. On substance, the only new point in the message is the idea, put
forward by the Governor that those boat people who arrive in
unseaworthy boats and spend a significant period in Chinese ports
should be regarded as landed in China and should be kept there until they can go back to Vietnam.
4.
In commenting on the draft message, Sir Alan Donald has pointed
out that we should be under no illusion about the effect it will
CONFIDENTIAL
15
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