CONFIDENTIAL
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MDHOAN 9138
4. IN RECENT WEEKS, THE BRITISH SIDE HAVE SUGGESTED A NUMBER OF SPECIFIC MEASURES 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.
5. I SHOULD NOW LIKE TO SUGGEST A FURTHER SPECIFIC MEASURE THAT COULD BE TAKEN BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES. I BELIEVE THAT THE TIME HAS COME FOR THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THOSE BOAT PEOPLE WHO ARRIVE AT POINTS ALONG THE CHINESE COAST IN UNSEAWORTHY BOATS OR WHO ARE OTHERWISE UNABLE TO CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY. I URGE YOU TO TREAT SUCH PEOPLE AS HAVING LANDED IN CHINA AND TO ACCOMMODATE THEM IN CHINA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRINCIPLES SET OUT IN THE DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION WHICH HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR THE FORTHCOMING INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES. I BELIEVE THAT SUCH ACTION WOULD BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDARD INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE. BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF ARRIVALS IN HONG KONG AND BY SENDING A CLEAR DETERRENT MESSAGE TO VIETNAM, WOULD ALSO BE OF CONSIDERABLE ASSISTANCE TO THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES AT THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
IT
5. I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT YOU WILL GIVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO
THIS PROPOSAL.
HOWE
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· ΜΑΙΝ
96
DISTRIBUTION
102
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
PUSD
ECD (E)
PAGE
NEWS
PS
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR PS/MR PATTEN ODA
PS MR EGGAR
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR SLATER
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CONFIDENTIAL
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