CODE 18-77

CONFIDENTIAL

HK12 243/2

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

11 JUN 1981

DESK OFFICER

154

Mr Williamson

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES:

1.

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

pas 11/6

No Mas

IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1981

The Hong Kong Attorney-General, Mr Griffiths, raised with me today the provisions proposed in EXCO paper XCC(81) 46A (Folio 37A on HKK 243/2).

2. Mr Griffiths' concern is to find whether the proposals for the prohibition of Vietnamese refugees from taking employment will be legally valid or subject to challenge under any international or other conventions. One example might be the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. We have already agreed that this does not inhibit Hong Kong limiting the qualifica- tions of lawyers (HKK 373/1) but we must be absolutely sure that any action taken against Vietnamese refugees is in order.

3.

Please check with Legal Advisers and other interested departments, I would like to be able to give Mr Griffiths an answer by next Wednesday, before he returns to Hong Kong.

see

فاذ

5 June 1981

der Crist has seer

R D Clift

Hong Kong and General Department

Mr. Williamson f 10.6.8.

1. 1

section

have

because

asked the Human Rights in UND. They

the that the refugees

Belongers, and

every

the right to prohibit

are

sea

го

problem

not Hong Kong

Government referves

way

prohibit temporary residents of work from taking employment (by as of work permits, employment visas

2.

and so

on).

Mr Rushford could not think of

and agreed with UND.

any problems

Marten A Searle

CONFIDENTIAL

10

VI

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