TNAG-2064-FCO40-2942-Vietnamese-boat-people-and-China-1990 — Page 71

CONFIDENTIAL

4.

I also took the opportunity to give the Ambassador a summary brief of our problems over VBPs. I said I hoped that the Chinese authorities would try now to get a serious grip on land crossers and coast hoppers. Evidence obtained from boat people arriving in recent months had shown that over 90 per cent of those who had arrived in 1989 had come to Hong Kong either by stopping off on the China coast or by travelling overland after crossing the Sino-Vietnamese border. Mr Ji said that it was extremely important that as much information as possible should be given to the Chinese authorities. Speaking from memoray, I said that I thought that there had recently been contact with the NCNA in Hong Kong.

5.

I have subsequently checked on this last point. Am I right in thinking that the most recent contact was between the Political Adviser and Ji Shaoxiang on 22 January (Hong Kong telno 21 to Peking)? I wonder if there would be any advantage in letting the Ambassador have a copy of the package of information passed to the Chinese on that occasion.

D H Gillmore

CONFIDENTIAL