SECRET
051122 MDHOAN 6821
·
TO VIETNAM UNDER SUITABLE SAFEGUARDS, OF THOSE WHO DO NOT MEET
THESE CRITERIA. SUCH A POLICY SHOULD SERVE TO DETER ECONOMIC MIGRANTS, AS OPPOSED TO GENUINE REFUGEES, FROM MAKING THE DANGEROUS JOURNEY BY SEA FROM HONG KONG, WHILE PRESERVING THE ACCESS OF GENUINE REFUGEES TO FIRST ASYLUM AND TO EVENTUAL
RESETTLEMENT.
(F) SIGUR WILL APPRECIATE SENSITIVE NATURE OF THIS DISCUSSION
SHOULD BE TREATED AS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.
BACKGROUND
2.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG FROM 29-31 MAY WILL ENABLE HIM TO ASSESS THE SITUATION AT FIRST HAND AND ΤΟ DISCUSS THE PROBLEM WITH THE GOVERNOR AND HIS SENIOR ADVISERS. WE EXPECT THAT DECISIONS ON A NEW POLICY WILL BE TAKEN SHORTLY AFTER THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S RETURN FROM HONG KONG. PLANNING IN HONG KONG IS PROCEEDING ON THE BASIS OF INTRODUCING THE NEW POLICY IN MID-JUNE. BUT THE FORMAL DECISIONS HAVE STILL TO BE
TAKEN BY MINISTERS AND EXCO.
3.
THE OFFTAKE BY THE US OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG IN 1987 WAS 333. THIS REPRESENTS A MARKED DECLINE ON
PREVIOUS YEARS:
1985
1721
1986
1323
SINCE 1975 THE US HAS RESETTLED OVER 62,000 OF THESE PEOPLE. THE US AUTHORITIES HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD BE PREPARED ΤΟ INCREASE THEIR OFFTAKE IN 1988 BUT THAT SUCH AN INCREASE WOULD BE DEPENDENT ON A MARKED INCREASE IN OUR OWN RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMME.
4.
THE US HAVE ALREADY EXPRESSED RESERVATIONS ABOUT A POSSIBLE ASEAN CONSENSUS ON LIMITING FIRST ASYLUM IN WHICH HONG KONG WOULD PLAY A PART. FURTHER BACKGROUND ON THIS POINT IS IN FCO TELNO 1088 AND HONG KONG TELNO 1630, BOTH OF WHICH WERE COPIED TO
WASHINGTON.
5.
HONG KONG TELNO 1347 AND MCLAREN'S TELELETTER OF 27 APRIL TO RICKETTS RECORD RECENT MEETINGS WITH SIGUR IN HONG KONG AND
LONDON.
WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY COMMENTS YOU MAY HAVE ON THE ABOVE, TO REACH WASHINGTON DESKBY 261300Z.
6.
HOWE
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