- COZADR
CONFIDENTIAL
FROM:
CO Hum
lile
134
Hong Kong Department
HKB
040/2
DATE:
13 July 1988
MELE
Mr McLaren
Private Secretary
14 JUL 1988
INDEX
HONG KONG DEBATE
1.
Please refer to Mr Peirce's minute of 12 July, recording three
points that have occured to the Secretary of State.
Vietnamese Boat People
2.
I take the Secretary of State's point. The argument which he has identified could however be extended to cover any boat people who, for whatever reason, were in ignorance of the change of policy when they arrived in Hong Kong. I think it has to be dealt with firmly, perhaps on the following lines:
"It was necessary to introduce the new policy in Hong Kong at
short notice. If an announcement had been made some time before the policy was put into effect this could have had the undesirable "pull effect" of stimulating departures from Vietnam of boat people hoping to reach Hong Kong before the new policy was implemented. I do not feel that the treatment of arrivals after the introduction of the new policy can be determined by whether or not the individuals concerned were aware of the new policy. But arrangements have of course been made to ensure that those arrivals with a genuine claim to refugee status will continue to have access to
resettlement".
Entry Refusal Cases
3. I have discussed this point with Mr Peirce. It is notoriously difficult to get swift action out of the Home Office. We agreed
CONFIDENTIAL