TNAG-2064-FCO40-2942-Vietnamese-boat-people-and-China-1990 — Page 16

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

CONFIDENTIAL

HKB

RECEIVED IN.

243 113

STRY

15 MAR 1990

TO PRIORITY FCO

DESI

TELNO 866

INDEX

OF 09090OZ MARCH 90

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INFO PRIORITY PEKING, HANOI-

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044462

MDLIAN 4929

GUANGXI : VIETNAMESE BORDER

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1 YESTERDAY'S TA KUNG PAO REPORTED AN INTERVIEW WITH A MILITARY OFFICIAL FROM THE GUANGZHOU REGION WHO HAD RECENTLY VISITED THE VIETNAMESE BORDER. HE MADE SEVERAL POINTS THAT ARE OF INTEREST.

2. FIRSTLY, HE STRESSED THAT THOUGH THERE HAD BEEN SOME RELAXATION TO PERMIT CROSS BORDER TRADE, THE AREA WAS TIGHTLY CONTROLLED. THOSE COMING ACROSS TO DO BUSINESS NEEDED A SPECIAL BORDER AREA PASS, A TRADING PASS, AND A CERTIFICATE OF PROFESSION BEFORE BEING ALLOWED TO CROSS THE BORDER. SINCE THE END OF 1989, HE SAID, OVER 30,000 VIETNAMESE WHO HAVE CROSSED ILLEGALLY HAD BEEN RETURNED BY THE BORDER CONTROL AUTHORITIES. HE FURTHER CLAIMED THAT ACTION TO CONTROL CROSSINGS ON THE BORDER HAD BASICALLY STOPPED ALL ILLEGAL CROSSINGS BY VIETNAMESE.

3. DEPUTY POLITICAL ADVISER WILL BE LEADING A DELEGATION FOR A MEETING TO REVIEW THE GROUP TOUR SCHEME IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 19 MARCH. THE CHINESE HAVE AGREED TO USE THIS MEETING AS A COVER TO TAKE DELEGATION TO GUANGXI, INCLUDING KEY POINTS ON THE COAST (BEIHAI, JIANGPING) AS WELL AS TO FANGCHENG AND THE BORDER AT DONGXING. WHILE THE CHINESE WISH US TO KEEP UP THE PRETENCE THAT THE TRIP IS FOR THE ROUTINE ANNUAL GROUP TOURS REVIEW, THEY ARE KEEN TO SHOW US THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND AND GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE WITH LOCAL GUANGXI OFFICIALS. WILL OBVIOUSLY BE USING THIS TRIP TO ASCERTAIN, AS FAR AS WE WHETHER THE MILITARY OFFICIAL'S CONFIDENT STATEMENT IS IN FACT

TRUE.

FORD

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CAN,

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