CONFIDENTIAL
032512
MDHIAN 38
4. I ASKED WHETHER THE CHINESE HAD RAISED THE QUESTION IN THE FIRST ROUND OF TALKS WITH HIM. HE LOOKED THOUGHTFUL AND THEN SAID IT WAS ENTIRELY TYPICAL OF THE CHINESE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM IN HONG KONG WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ENABLING THE PROBLEM TO GET WORSE.
5. WE LEFT IT THAT HE WOULD REPORT TO HIS GOVERNMENT AND WOULD ISSUE INTRUCTIONS FOR EFFORTS TO BE RE-DOUBLED TO DISCOURAGE THE OUTFLOW.
6. AS I WAS LEAVING A JUMIOR MEMBER OF THE CONSULAR DEPARTMENT SAID THAT HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES SIMPLY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY SO MANY EPOPLE WERE NOW WISHING TO LEAVE VIETNAM WHEN THE SITUATVON WAS IMPROVING. I OFFERED NO ENLIGHTENMENT.
7. AS YOU SEE FROM ABOVE LIEM WILL NOT PASS THROUGH HONG KONG TO PEKING HE WOLD ME THIS AFTERNOON THAT AFTER TNE TALKS, WHICH ARE SCHEDULED TO END ON 10 MAY, THE CHINESE WERE PROPOSING TO SHOW HIM AROUND GUANG DONG PROVINCE. HE BELIVED THAT HE WOULD NOW ARRIVE IN HONG KONG BY TRAIN ON 13 MAY AND FLY OFF VIRTUALLY IMMEDIATELY. HE MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE HAD NO GREAT DESIRE TO HAVE SUBSTANTIVE TALKS WITH ANYBODY IN HONG FCONG BUT ITSAID THAT IT SEEMED LIKELY TO ME THAT SOMEBODY WOULD WISH TO BE IN TOUCH WITH HIM. IT IS FOR THE GOVERNOR TO DECIDE HOW TO PLAY IT BUT I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT APPROPORIATE FOR THE POLITICAL ADVISER AT LEAST TO MEET LIEM AND TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER THE GROUND YET AGAIN.
DAVIES
FCO PSE PASS HONG KONG, HUKMIS GENEVA, PEKING
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
96
DISTRIBUTION
102
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS/MR PATTEN ODA
PS MR EGGAR
PS/PUS
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
NEWS
PS
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
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CONFIDENTIAL
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