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CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 982
OF 19140OZ APRIL 88
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA
B
HKD 243/8
OUR TELNO 891 AND YOUR TELNO 1277:
HONG KONG
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN
1. WE HAVE NOW CONSIDERED FURTHER THE IDEAS SET OUT IN
SECOND TUR, TAKING PARTICULAR ACCOUNT OF THE ICG MEETING HELD ON 7-8 APRIL IN OTTAWA. OUR FIRST THOUGHTS ARE CONTAINED IN OUR 2 IFTS. THE FIRST ANALYSES THE OUTCOME OF THE MEETING AND
THE IMPLICATIONS FOR HONG KONG. AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND THE
SECOND CONSIDERS YOUR PROPOSED OPTIONS FOR ACTION.
THE CASE
2. IN SHORT WE THINK THAT THE ICG MEETING HAS IN SOME WAYS
IMPROVED THE PROSPECTS FOR A NEW INITIATIVE ON THE LINES OF
PARAGRAPH 1 (B) OF SECOND TUR. IT HAS ALSO STRENGTHENED
FOR A THOROUGH RECONSIDERATION OF POLICY, BY DEMONSTRATING THE GROWING RESISTANCE TO AN APPROACH BASED ON A PRESUMPTION OF
INTERNATIONAL RESETTLEMENT FOR ALL BOAT PEOPLE. THIS MAKES THE
MAINTENANCE OF CURRENT POLICIES INCREASINGLY UNATTRACTIVE. BUT
THE ALTERNATIVES ARE OF COURSE FRAUGHT WITH DIFFICULTIES AND
RISKS OF THEIR OWN, WHICH NEED TO BE VERY CAREFULLY WEIGHED UP. 3. WHAT FOLLOWS REFLECTS PRELIMINARY THINKING AT OFFICIAL LEVEL IN
THE FCO. ANY ACTION ON THESE LINES WOULD OF COURSE NEED TO BE
DISCUSSED WITH OTHER WHITEHALL DEPARTMENTS AND CONSIDERED BY
MINISTERS. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS TO HELP US
DECIDE HOW BEST TO TAKE MATTERS FORWARD.
HOWE
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MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
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LEGEL ADVISERS
MR GILLMORE
MR MCLAREN
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CONFIDENTIAL