PJZABJ
CONFIDENTIAL
A
Background
1.
Dr Sigur is well aware of the general background having recently visited Hong Kong and called on the Governor.
2. By mid-1987 the number of Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong had declined to about 7,600. But in 1987 arrivals increased by 65%
This trend has to 3,395 and departures decreased by 42% to 2,212. continued in 1988. There are now about 9,800 Vietnamese refugees in
Hong Kong.
We made
At the meeting
3. The US took 1,323 Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong in 1987, 990 fewer than in 1986. This decrease is the main reason for the overall deterioration in the departure rate in 1987. several approaches to them in Washington last year. of the ICG earlier this month Ambassador Moore said that the US were still thinking about our request for an additional P6 offtake; they had a large resettled large numbers from Hong Kong; the decline in US offtake came more from a change in the profile of boat people arriving in Hong Kong than from any US decision to reduce offtake; for the US to consider P6 cases there had to be a better UK performance; our resettlement commitment of 468 over 2 years was inadequate and was counterproductive in advancing Hong Kong's case in the US. He said that the US offer of a further commitment remained open but was conditional on a UK quota of at least 1,000.
4. Our thinking on posible new initiatives on refugee policy in Hong Kong is set out in the attached telegrams.
C
D
5. Our brief report on the Ottawa ICG meeting is attached. paper providing guidance for delegations to consider on an individual basis in the context of their strategies on Vietnamese Boat People is also attached.
A
CONFIDENTIAL