*
4
CONFIDENTIAL
7198
1
PARTICULAR TO URGE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES NOT TO REJECT
APPLICANTS AS BEING ECONOMIC MIGRANTS RATHER THAN
REFUGEES: THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT IF RETURNED THEY WOULD BE SUBJECT TO PERSECUTION.
FOR PARIS, CANBERRA AND OTTAWA
YOU SHOULD MAKE THE FOLLOWING POINTS WITH YOUR HOST
GOVERNMENTS AT THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL:
4.
REFER TO THE DIFFICULTIES FACED BY HONG KONG:
(A)
(B)
(C)
SEEK THEIR VIEWS ON THE MERITS OF A JOINT APPROACH TO THE
VIETNAMESE TO POINT OUT THE DIFFICULTIES AND HUMANITARIAN
PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE CONTINUING OUTFLOW OF REFUGEES AND
TO URGE THEM TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE THEIR EFFORTS TO
ARRANGE DEPARTURES THROUGH THE ODP:
WHILE EXPRESSING GRATITUDE FOR PAST OFFTAKE, URCE THEM TO
TAKE MORE REFUGEES FROM HONQ KONG, AND NOT TO REJECT
APPLICANTS AS BEING ECONOMIC MIGRANTS RATHER THAN
REFUGEES (SEE PARA 3(C) ABOVE).
FOR ALL
5. IF THE QUESTION OF HMG TAKING MORE REFUQEES IS RAISED YOU
SHOULD SAY THAT THE UK HAS FULFILLED ITS COMMITMENT MADE AT THE
1979 GENEVA CONFERENCE, AND THERE IS NO PROSPECT OF A FURTHER
QUOTA. UK HAS NOT BEEN A POPULAR RESETTLEMENT DESTINATION AND
RESETTLEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL. HOWEVER, HMG WILL CONTINUE
TO ACCEPT SHIP RESCUE AND CLOSE FAMILY REUNION CASES, AS WELL AS
ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE ODP.
6.
SEPARATE INSTRUCTIONS ARE BEING SENT TO WASHINGTON IN VIEW
OF THE KEY ROLE OF THE US GOVERNMENT. ANY FURTHER IDEAS THAT
HONG KONG MAY HAVE WOULD BE WELCOME.
PYM
BOAT PEOPLE
LIMITED
SEAD
PS
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
PS/LORD BELSTEAD PS/PUS
BOAT PEOPLE
HK & GD
UND
FED
PUSD
NEWS D MAED
MR WRIGHT
MR GIFFARD MR DONALD MR ADAMS MR URE
2
CONFIDENTIAL
Page 75Page 76