TNAG-2066-FCO40-2944-Vietnamese-boat-people-and-China-1990 — Page 36

CC

Hi Blous

SECRET

Mr Mande

I am convent

with

These recommendations

don't thaik

име

или дес

FROM:

C C D Haswell

DATE:

18 May 1990

very for with the

Chimiec

on any of these

ideas,

but

CC:

ther is

wo

harm

Mr McLaren

them forward. Adviser (NCNA

The fut one

in putting

The Politica

channel is

aL

This stage

Kulungen

Mr Colvin o/r

Mr Paul, HKD

Mr Davies, FED

Mr Brenton, UND

Mr Bruce, SEAD

21

Mr Whitehead, News Dept

Mr Burns

PS/Mr Maude

Private Secretary

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION THROUGH CHINA, AND OTHER

MEASURES

Problem

1. Recent statements by the Chinese on the subject of Vietnamese boat people, notably by Chen Ziying in Peking on 4 May, open the way to an approach to them for specific help in dealing with the VBP problem.

Recommendation

2.

Subject to the outcome of this week's regional meeting in Manila, I recommend that the Political Adviser in Hong Kong should approach the NCNA and, after expressing gratitude for their expressed support, run through a number of possibilities:-

(i) Increased efforts to interdict coast-hoppers and

land-crossers.

(ii)

A holding centre or centres in South China.

(iii) A scheme to repatriate non-refugee Vietnamese through

South China.

SECRET