UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1490
OF 101145Z MAY 89
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
UNCLASSIFIED
ты
Mkp 243/22
TOP COPY
Q DIST 7
054453
MDHIAN 4067
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: YOUR MESSAGE TO QIAN QICHEN : PRESS REPORTS
YOU WILL WISH TO BE AWARE THAT TODAY'S MING PAO CARRIES A REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S MESSAGE TO QIAN QICHEN.
2.
BRIEFLY THE ARTICLE NOTES THAT THE MESSAGE ASKS THE CHINESE FOR ASSISTANCE WITH PREVENTING COAST HOPPING AND WITH OTHER PREPARATIONS FOR THE GENEVA CONFERENCE. IT NOTES THAT THE POLITICAL ADVISER HERE HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH NCNA, WHO HAVE PASSED YOUR CONCERNS ON TO PEKING. THE CHINESE JLG OFFICE (SIC) WILL ALSO DISCUSS WITH NCNA. THE MESSAGE ALSO ASKS THE CHINESE TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER COAST HOPPERS ARE BEING ILLEGALLY ASSISTED BY ORGANISERS WORKING FOR PROFIT AND TO TAKE ACTION TO TIGHTEN CONTROLS ON THE COAST.
3.
SEPARATELY THE SING PAO DAILY NEWS AND THE EXPRESS HAVE REPORTED COMMENTS BY LU PING OF THE HKMAO TO THE EFFECT THAT BRITAIN SHOULD TAKE A FIRM STANCE AT GENEVA. IF BRITAIN SUGGESTED MANDATORY REPATRIATION, CHINA WOULD LEND SUPPORT. LU IS REPORTED TO HAVE SAID THAT IT IS HMG'S RESPONSIBILITY TO RESOLVE THE VBP PROBLEM IN HONG KO..G AND WE SHOULD NOT PASS THIS RESPONSIBILITY OVER TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. THE CHINESE HAVE GIVEN CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS TO LOCAL OFFICIALS NOT TO ASSIST BOAT PEOPLE AND ANY OFFICIALS DISOBEYING THESE INSTRUCTIONS WOULD BE SEVERELY PUNISHED.
IN ANSWER TO PRESS QUERIES HERE WE ARE TAKING THE LINE THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS AT MANY LEVELS ABOUT THE URGENT VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE PROBLEMS WE FACE AND ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE HELP THEY ARE GIVING IN THIS REGARD.
4.
WILSON
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