CONFIDENTIAL
110142
MDLIAN 3038
ESTABLISHMENT OF A SCREENING PROGRAMME UNDER APPROPRIATE INTERNATIONAL SAFEGUARDS, INCLUDING UNHCR MONITORING, TO DETERMINE WHICH ASYLUM SEEKERS ARE BONA FIDE REFUGEES''
- ·
•
·
WHILE
(E) THE OBJECT OF THESE MEASURES WOULD BE ''TO BUY TIME
WE COLLECTIVELY AWAIT THE RESOLUTION OF THE CAMBODIAN TANGLE
AND THE ADOPTION BY THE SRV OF POLICIES THAT DO NOT REPEL ITS CITIZENS.
(F) SPECIFICALLY ON HONG KONG 'THE UNITED KINGDOM HAS A
RESPONSIBILITY TO ASSURE THAT HONG KONG CONTINUES TO ACCEPT ALL
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE SEEKING ASYLUM AND TO MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES. IN SUPPORT OF THIS, WE HAVE REITERATED OUT CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO RESETTLE QUALIFIED REFUGEES. THE UNITED KINGDOM RESETTLEMENT EFFORT, HOWEVER, REMAINS MEAGER. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE UNITED KINGDOM MAY VERY SOON PROPOSE TO THE HKG THE INSTITUTION OF A SCREENING PROGRAM UNDER UNHCR AUSPICES.
WE ARE WATCHING THESE DEVELOPMENTS WITH INTEREST AND WOULD
WELCOME THE INSTITUTION OF SUCH A PROGRAME PROVIDED THAT IT
ASSURES THE MAINTENANCE OF FIRST ASYLUM AND HUMANE TREATMENT OF ALL A SYLUM SEEKERS, INCLUDING THE SCREENED-OUT.''
3. IN SUMMARY THE US OBJECTIVE IS TO ''REINFORCE THE GRANTING OF GENEROUS FIRST ASYLUM THROUGHOUT THE REGION. ADOPTION OF COURSES OF ACTION TO REDUCE NUMBERS OF ASYLUM SEEKERS WITHOUT A FIRM
COMMITMENT TO FIRST ASYLUM WILL NOT BE SUPPORTED BY THE US THEY WILL BE OPPOSED.'
WILSON
-
INDEED
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
117
.VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
WED
DISTRIBUTION
120
ECD (E)
SPD
FED
NEWS
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS MR EGGAR
PS/PUS
2
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL