DSR 11 (Revised Sept 85)
DRAFT: minute/letter/teleletter/despatch/note
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TYPE: Draft/Final 1 +
Reference
COZADA
Your Reference
Secretary of State
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CAVEAT
SUBJECT:
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG
In Confidence
1. I minuted to you on 17 May about the deteriorating
problem of Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong. I
described the elements of the new policy which the Hong
Kong Government are considering. In essence this would
involve screening new arrivals against standard UNHCR
criteria so as to preserve accesss to first asylum and
resettlement for genuine refugees, while detaining those
screened out pending eventual repatriation to Vietnam.
Charles Powell's letter of 18 May recorded that you were
disposed to agree that the Hong Kong Goverment should
change their position in the way described. I undertook
to consult colleagues further on return from my visit to
Hong Kong.
Enclosures flag(s)
2. My visits and discussions in Hong Kong have
reinforced my initial view that the Hong Kong Government
have no alternative to adopting a new policy along the
lines proposed.
They are coping with the influx with