CONFIDENTIAL
34447
MDHIAN 4066
SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, WROTE TO FOREIGN MINISTER QIAN QICHEN TO ASK FOR CHINA'S HELP IN STEMMING THE FLOOD. ONE SPECIFIC SUGGESTION WHICH HE MADE WAS THAT CHINA SHOULD REGARD ANY VIETNAMESE WHO SPEND TIME IN CHINA ON THEIR WAY TO HONG KONG AS HAVING LANDED IN THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC AND SHOULD ACCOMMODATE THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH
STANDARD INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE.
I GREATLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES, AND NOTABLY THOSE OF GUANGDONG PROVINCE, TO DISCOURAGE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE FROM COMING TO HONG KONG. HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE RATE OF DEPARTURES FROM VIETNAM HAS IN RECENT WEEKS INCREASED SO DRAMATICALLY AND BECAUSE SO MANY OF THESE PEOPLE PASS THROUGH GUANGDONG PROVINCE, I BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE OF ENORMOUS ASSISTANCE IF YOUR EXCELLENCY WOULD GIVE YOUR PERSONAL ATTENTION TO THIS QUESTION. I UNDERSTAND ALL THE DIFFICULTIES IN DEALING WITH THIS TYPE OF UNCONTROLLED MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE. HOWEVER I AM SURE YOU WILL AGREE THAT IT WOULD BE IN THE INTERESTS
OF YOUR PROVINCE AS WELL AS OF HONG KONG TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO DETER MORE PEOPLE FROM COMING. I HOPE THAT IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO BE GIVEN TO YOUR OFFICIALS TO ENSURE THAT NO ASSISTANCE IS GIVEN TO BOAT PEOPLE FOR ONWARD TRAVEL TO HONG KONG AND THAT EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO PERSUADE THEM TO RETURN THEM TO VIETNAM. I WOULD ASK ALSO THAT ANYONE TRYING TO TRAVEL OVERLAND FROM VIETNAM THROUGH CHINA TO HONG KONG IS DETAINED AND SENT BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND THAT PEOPLE WHO LAND IN CHINESE PORTS ARE NOT
PROVIDED WITH FACILITIES TO CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY TO HONG KONG.
WE HAVE, AS YOU KNOW, BEEN PROVIDING DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE ROUTES USED BY BOAT PEOPLE ON THEIR JOURNEYS TO HONG KONG AND THE
TYPE OF ASSISTANCE WHICH WE UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE RECEIVED IN CHINA.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THIS THROUGH THE NEW CHINA NEW AGENCY. IN ADDITION, MY OFFICIALS ARE OF COURSE AT THE DISPOSAL OF THE GUANGDONG AUTHORITIES TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER EXPLANATION AND BRIEFING WHICH YOU MAY FIND USEFUL. WE SHALL BE DELIGHTED TO WELCOME GUANGDON OFFICIALS HERE IN HONG KONG TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM TO THEM
IN MORE DETAIL. ALTERNATIVELY HONG KONG OFFICIALS COULD TRAVEL TO
GUANGDONG FOR THIS PURPOSE.
WILSON
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CONFIDENTIAL
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