CONFIDENTIAL
127551 MDHIAN 6986
CHANGE OF POLICY VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE CONTINUE TO ARRIVE AND, IF, AS IS LIKELY, ARRANGEMENTS TO REPATRIATE TO VIETNAM TAKE
A LONG TIME, WE SHALL BE FACED WITH AN EVER INCREASING NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE WHO HAVE TO BE HELD IN DETENTION FOR A LONG PERIOD
WITHOUT HOPE OF RESETTLEMENT.
12. I AM AWARE THAT THERE IS A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION TO ALL THIS. MOST OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES ARE TAKING AN INCREASINGLY TOUGH ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE PROBLEM OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE. INDEED THEY HAVE EFFECTIVELY RENEGED ON THEIR UNDERTAKINGS AT THE 1979 GENEVA CONFERENCE TO TREAT ALL VIETNAMESE
BOAT ARRIVALS AS REFUGEES. NEVERTHELESS LIBERAL OPINION CAN BE
EXPECTED TO REACT SHARPLY AGAINST THE ENDING OF A POLICY OF PROVIDING FIRST ASYLUM. SO WILL UNHCR. HOWEVER MUCH WE EXPLAIN HONG KONG'S OUTSTANDING RECORD TO DATE, WE SHALL BE CAUGHT IN THE VICE BETWEEN CRITICAL PUBLIC OPINION IN WESTERN COUNTRIES AND THE RELUCTANCE OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE SAME COUNTRIES TO PROVIDE ANY REAL ASSISTANCE TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM ITSELF. I IMAGINE THAT THERE WOULD BE MANY CRITICAL VOICES IN PARLIAMENT. WE MUST EXPECT TO COME UNDER MORE CRITICISM THAN OTHERS SUCH AS THAILAND OR MALAYSIA WHO MAY MOVE IN THE SAME DIRECTION, ALTHOUGH A CONCERTED CHANGE OF POLICY BY PLACES OF FIRST ASYLUM IN THE REGION COULD
PROVIDE SOME COVER FOR HONG KONG.
13. WITH ARRIVALS AT THEIR PRESENT RATE, OUR CAMP FACILITIES ALREADY OVERSTRETCHED AND GROWING POLITICAL OPPOSITION TO PROVIDING FURTHER FACILITIES FOR HOUSING BOAT PEOPLE, WE NEED TO TAKE DECISIONS SOON ON AN EFFECTIVE POLICY TO DEAL WITH THIS DILEMMA. BEFORE WE TAKE THE MATTER FURTHER, AND BEFORE I CONSULT EXCO, I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR REACTION TO THE PROPOSAL OUTLINED IN PARAS 10 AND 11 ABOVE.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
39
DISTRIBUTION
40
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
ADDITIONAL
MR FIFOOT
LEGAL
EQTY ADVISERS
LEGAL ADVISERS
MR GILLMORE
MR MCLAREN
4
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