CONFIDENTIAL
19
041161
MDHIAN 3407
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HANOI
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 236
OF 05073OZ MAY 89
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
Mko 243/22
INFO ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON
TOP
Q DIST 7
MY TELNO 230: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
1. THACH WAS NOT AT THE CZECH PARTY AND IT PROVED IMPOSSIBLE TO PRISE CO AWAY FROM COLLEAGUES QUIZZING HIM ABOUT CAMBODIA. AS I HAVE NOW SEEN PHUC (MY TELNO 232), I PROPOSE TO WAIT TO SEE HOW MY WORKING DINNER GOES ON 8 MAY.
2. COINCIDENTALLY, AN INFORMANT IN RADIO VIETNAM, INCENSED BY WHAT SHE UNDERSTOOD TO BE A CLAIM MADE THIS MORNING BY THE VOICE OF AMERICA CORRESPONDENT IN HONG KONG THAT THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT WAS ENCOURAGING THE OUTFLOW OF PEOPLE, CLAIMED VEHEMENTLY THAT THERE HAD BEEN A GOOD DEAL OF PUBLICITY ON THE RADIO AND TV AND IN THE NEWSPAPERS AIMED AT DISCOURAGING ILLEGAL EMIGRANTS.
3. YOU MAY BE INTERESTED TO KNOW THAT (VIDE MY TELNO 230) WHEN I PUT TO CHAN THAT A WORRYINGLY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE ARRIVING IN HONG KONG HAD HEARD OF THE SCREENING POLICY ETC, HE RESPONDED INSTANTLY BY SAYING THAT ONE WOULD HARDLY EXPECT INTELLIGANT VIETNAMESE ARRIVING IN THAT SORT OF SITUATION TO REVEAL THAT THEY KNEW OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S POLICY BEFORE DEPARTURE. A FAIR POINT, WHICH THOSE INTERVIEWING MIGHT LIKE TO BEAR IN MIND.
4. I HAVE BEEN GIVING FURTHER CONSIDERATION TO POSSIBLE REASONS FOR THE MOUNTING EXODUS. ONE POSSIBLE REASON IS THAT OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS IN PARTICULAR, WE HAVE SEEN A GREAT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FORMER REFUGEES RETURNING FOR PERSONAL OR BUSINESS VISITS. I KNOW OF A FEW CASES WHERE SUCH VISITS HAVE CAUSED ENVY AND EVEN DISTRESS AMONGST RELATIVES STILL IN VIETNAM: IT MAY BE A POINT OF MORE GENERAL VALIDITY.
DAVIES
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