Secretary of State
CONFIDENTIAL
Me
243/5
33
PA HKK-243/1
HKK 243/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
22 APR 1983
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY
Action Taken
Ar2714
(32)
see 36
(40)
(41)
(46)
дее
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG
nit
1. Mr Holmes' minute of 29 March reported that you were not persuaded by the proposals in my minute of 21 March, and that you had suggested that consideration be given to the possibility of a multilateral initiative aimed at stopping the outflow from Vietnam, and of Hong Kong delcaring its intention of refusing entry to new arrivals. Officials and I have now considered these points carefully, and we have also sought the Governor of Hong Kong's views.
Stopping the outflow from Vietnam
2.
I agree that there would be merit in exploring the possibility of a multilateral approach aimed at stopping the outflow from Vietnam. To avoid criticism that this represents merely an encourage- ment to more severe repression, it should concentrate on an appeal for an increase in the numbers permitted to leave under the Orderly Departure Programme. This may not be easy to coordinate and may not necessarily be successful, but, as you have pointed out, it will be a demonstration of our desire to help Hong Kong. I therefore propose that instructions be sent to UKMIS Geneva and to our posts in Washington, Paris, Ottawa and Canberra to propose that approaches on these lines be made to the Vietnamese.
3. However, I think that the other suggestion you minuted would be extremely difficult for HMG to justify publicly. Turning boats out to sea, even if they were reprovisioned, would leave us open to severe criticism on human rights grounds if there was any risk, as there would be, to the lives of the refugees. In previous years other regional Governments who resorted to this attracted widespread criticism; in 1980 we told the Brunei authorities we could not condone it. The Hong Kong Government have also recently made representations on this issue to Macao. I do not, therefore, recommend that this should be further pursued.
Resettlement opportunities
4.
In conjunction with our approach on curbing the outflow from Vietnam, we need also to give consideration to ways of increasing resettlement opportunities for refugees already in countries of first asylum. There are dangers that a major exercise on the lines of that in 1979 would arouse new expectations, and stimulate a further exodus from Vietnam. But with over 12,000 refugees still in Hong Kong, we must get resettlement going again.
5. I therefore recommend that we ask the UNHCR to explore other solutions for resettlement and continue to lobby in capitals for Governments to do more for Hong Kong. We will have to be prepared to make it clear that we do not envisage HMG being able to take a
CONFIDENTIAL
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