TNAG-1977-FCO40-2810-Arrivals-figures-and-procedures-for-Vietnamese-refugees-in-H-1989 — Page 140

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the Vietnamese to underline Ministers' personal concern about the

situation; to seek chapter and verse on the measures which the

Vietnamese authorities claim they are taking and to press them to

do more.

6.

The Chinese authorities have only just received the Secretary of State's message of 27 April, which was delivered to the MFA on

the same day by the Counsellor in the Ambassador's absence from

Peking on a commercial tour. The Ambassador's return to Peking

provides an opportunity for him to call on Vice Minister Zhou Nan to

add new weight to the message, reiterate the points it contains, and

to bring to the attention of the Chinese the latest figures for

arrivals, and the latest information about the routes taken by the

boat people.

7. It should lie within the power of the Chinese to stop the boat

people from reaching Hong Kong if they are really determined to

do so.

In particular they should be able to detain individuals who have entered China illegally and who undertake a lengthy journey

overland.

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