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MED 13/143/22
027053
MDHIAN 2907
Q
9-
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1386
OF 02114OZ MAY 89
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA
140
MY TELNO 1355: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
1. A FURTHER 200 VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE ARRIVED YESTERDAY, 1 MAY. THAT MAKES 1000 ARRIVALS IN THE PAST 6 DAYS.
2. WE HAVE UNCONFIRMED REPORTS OF QUOTE A FEW THOUSAND UNQUOTE MORE VBP MAKING THEIR WAY TO HONG KONG ALONG THE SOUTH CHINA COAST. IF THE PRESENT RATE CONTINUES DURING MAY, OR INCREASES AS IS USUAL AT THIS TIME OF YEAR BECAUSE OF FAVOURABLE WINDS, THE ACCOMMODATION PROBLEM, WHICH IS ALREADY SERIOUS, WILL QUICKLY BECOME CRITICAL.
3. ALL OF THIS UNDERLINES THE IMPORTANTS OF THE POINTS MADE IN MY TUR
ABOUT ACTION NEEDED TO ACHIEVE TANGIBLE RESULTS AT THE GENEVA
CONFERENCE.
4. IN ADDITION TO THE ACTION RECOMMENDED IN TUR I BELIEVE THAT FURTHER URGENT ACTION IS NOW NEEDED WITH BOTH THE VIETNAMESE AND THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES IN AN ATTEMPT TO STEM THE INFLUX INTO HONG KONG. THIS COULD TAKE TWO FORMS:
A) I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF HANOI COULD BE ASKED TO GO FURTHER THAN THE REQUEST IN MY TELNO 1349 (INFORMATION ON VIETNAMESE EFFORTS TO PREVENT DEPARTURES) BY EXPLAINING THE VERY SERIOUS SITUATION IN HONG KONG AND SEEKING IMMEDIATE AND EFFECTIVE ACTION TO STEM THE EXODUS FROM VIETNAM. I WOULD HOPE THIS COULD BE DONE ON MINISTERIAL INSTRUCTIONS AS A FOLLOW UP TO LORD GLENARTHUR'S DISCUSSIONS WITH VIETNAMESE MINISTERS LAST MONTH. I AM UNDER NO ILLUSIONS ABOUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF QUICK AND EFFECTIVE VIETNAMESE ACTION. BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE MUST CONTINUE TO STRESS THE URGENCY OF THE SITUATION
NEVERTHELESS AND THE NEED FOR THEM TO SHOW GOOD FAITH IN THE RUN UP TO THE ICIR.
B) A FOLLOW UP TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S MESSAGE IN PEKING.
THIS COULD REFER TO REPORTS WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM NEW ARRIVALS, AND FROM LETTERS FROM THOSE NOW IN CHINA, OF SEVERAL THOUSAND MORE ON THE WAY. THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS UNDERLINE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
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