TABADV
CONFIDENTIAL
VISIT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO HONG KONG: 29-31 MAY 1988
BRIEF NO 9: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
Objectives
1.
To demonstrate understanding of the extent of concern in
Hong Kong about the problem.
2. To probe the current thinking of the Hong Kong Government about
a possible change of policy on Vietnamese boat people, in particular
about the practical implications of any change.
3. While signalling HMG's concern, to avoid at this stage any
commitment to endorsing a change of policy; to making any new
resettlement offer; or to any increased financial contribution,
pending consultation with colleagues on return to London.
Points to make
[With Governor and officials]
Understand why you should have concluded that the present
policy of automatic asylum for all arrivals is becoming untenable.
Glad that you agree that option involving no screening on
arrival would be politically and presentationally unacceptable.
But practical implications of a change of policy have to be
thought through. Will the new policy really deter arrivals? Will
you not simply be creating a new prison population of illegal
immigrants? What will you do with those boat people who have arrived before the introduction of new policy? How will screening
work in practice?
International dimension will of course require very careful
handling: new policy would need careful presentation to UNHCR,
resettlement countries, especially US.
Must tell you frankly that I am not sanguine about securing
agreement to new UK resettlement commitment. Nor is it clear how
international community would respond to resettlement call.
[ExCo, OMELCO and others]
Acutely conscious of gravity of crisis facing Hong Kong.
CONFIDENTIAL