FLAG A
CONFIDENTIAL
BACKGROUND
1.
This PQ follows one that Mr Arnold asked on 14 March.
2. Our policy is to accept the general view that boat-people
should be treated as refugees and to support the United Nations
High Commission for Refugees' leading role in supervising
their asylum in countries of the region and promoting their
eventual resettlement elsewhere. At the Conference on boat
refugees in 1979 it was agreed that regional states (such as
Hong Kong) would provide first asylum and not be expected to
provide permanent homes for the refugees who would eventually
be resettled elsewhere. Although there are serious problems
thrown up by the continuing, if much diminished, outflow of
boat-people this general arrangement for the moment remains
in place and is the basis for our current policy.
3. However, resettlement countries are now rejecting many
boat-people as having been driven by economic rather than
political motives. Resettlement opportunities are thus
diminishing. For this reason consideration is being given to
Hong Kong's recommendation that we explore the possibility
of arranging the repatriation to Vietnam of future arrivals
of boat-people in the territory. Repatriation would, of course,
only be considered if the Vietnamese Government offered
satisfactory assurances concerning the treatment of any
repatriates.
4. The draft answer has been cleared with SEAD and Hong Kong.
Hong Kong and General Department
CONFIDENTIAL
18 March 1983