CONFIDENTIAL
050434
MDHIAN 7009
GOVERNMENT'S SUPPORT OF THE ADOPTION OF THE NEW POLICY ON VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. DURING HER RECENT VISIT TO USA, SHE HAD MET OFFICIALS OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REFUGEE MATTERS. WHEN SHE URGED THE US GOVERNMENT TO ACCEPT MORE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG, THEY ALWAYS GAVE THE EXCUSE THAT IF BRITAIN TOOK THE LEAD TO TAKE IN MORE REFUGEES, THEY WOULD CONSIDER INCREASING THE REFUGEE INTAKE. SHE THEREFORE HOPED THAT BRITISH GOVERNMENT WOULD AGREE TO ACCEPT MORE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG FOR RESETTLEMENT. SHE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT AS ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF UNHCR, BRITAIN SHOULD HAVE SUBSTANTIAL INFLUENCE ON THE COMMISSION AND SHE HOPED THAT THE UK GOVERNMENT COULD EXERT GREATER PRESSURE ON UNHCR TO INCREASE ITS SHARE OF THE COSTS OF MAINTAINING VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG. AS A LONG TERM SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM, THE UK GOVERNMENT SHOULD, THROUGH ITS AMBASSADOR IN HANOI AND OTHER DIP- LOMATIC CHANNELS STEP UP ITS LIAISON WITH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT WITH A VIEW TO SECURING EARLY REPATRIATION OF THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE STRANDED IN HONG KONG.
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5. THE MINISTER OF STATE SAID THAT ON THE QUESTION OF RESETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WAS CURRENTLY REVIEWING A
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WHOLE LIST OF OPTIONS AND TO ACCEPT MORE REFUGEES BY UK WAS ONE OF THE OPTIONS UNDER CONSIDERATION HE FURTHER ADVISED THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAD JUST HELD A MEETING WITH SENIOR OFFICIALS OF UNHCR IN LONDON THE DAY BEFORE (29 JUNE 1988). ALTHOUGH HE HAD YET TO BE BRIEFED ON THE OUTCOME OF THE MEETING ON HIS RETURN, HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE HONG KONG CASE REGARDING COST SHARING HAD BEEN PUT TO UNHCR FOR CONSIDERATION. ON THE INTERNATIONAL FRONT, HE SAID THAT BRITAIN HAD MADE CONSIDERABLE EFFORT TO ASSIST HONG KONG ON THIS ISSUE. THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAD TAKEN UP THE MATTER WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF USSR AND THE HM AMBASSADOR TO HANOI HAD ALSO MADE DIPLOMATIC DEMARCHE TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT THE SERIOUS CONCERNS EXPRESSED ON THE PROBLEM.
6. IN REPLY TO MR YUNG PO-KWAN'S QUESTION ABOUT THE FORTHCOMING MEETING OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF ASEAN COUNTRIES, THE MINISTER
OF STATE SAID THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAD RECENTLY VISITED PHILIPPINES AND SINGAPORE AND HE ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE SITUATION OF HONG KONG HAD BEEN MADE KNOWN TO THESE COUNTRIES.
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IN REPLY TO A FURTHER QUESTION BY MR YEUNG PO-KWAN, THE MINISTER OF STATE SAID THAT HE HAD DISCUSSED WITH THE CHINESE OFFICIALS ABOUT VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO HAVE THEIR PROVISIONS REPLENISHED ALONG THE CHINESE COAST. HE WAS INFORMED THAT CHINA
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CONFIDENTIAL