SECRET
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 170100Z HONG KONG
TELNO 1256
OF 16151OZ MAY 88
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA
962
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TOP COPY O DIST 7
HKD 243/8
157
020020 MDHOAN 6096
OUR TELNO 1240 AND YOUR TELNOS 1823 AND 1825: VIETNAMESE BOAT
PEOPLE IN HONG KONG
1.
WE HAVE THE
FOLLOWING
FURTHER THOUGHTS ON THE DRAFT
MEMORANDUM FOR EXCO WHICH YOU MAY WISH TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT IN YOUR DISCUSSIONS WITH EXCO ON 17 MAY: (A)
IN ADDITION TO THE FACTORS LISTED IN PARA 8 OF DRAFT, THE CURRENT FAMINE IN VIETNAM AND THE TOUGHER POLICIES ADOPTED BY OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION ARE FURTHER LIKELY CAUSES OF
THE SEVEN-FOLD INCREASE IN ARRIVALS SO FAR THIS YEAR OVER THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.
(B)
WE FOUND THE WORDING OF PARA 15 OF THE DRAFT A LITTLE
MISLEADING: IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO MAKE CLEAR TO EXCO THAT ONLY ARRIVALS SCREENED OUT WOULD BE CONSIDERED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
(C) IN ANY DISCUSSION OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF AID TO VIETNAM YOU MIGHT MENTION THAT THE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES HAVE RECENTLY AGREED AMONGST THEMSELVES THAT LIMITED AID THROUGH UNHCR MIGHT BE MADE
AVAILABLE IN CONNECTION WITH THE RETURN OF REFUGEES TO VIETNAM.
UNHCR ARE TO SPEAK TO THE VIETNAMESE ABOUT THIS POSSIBILITY.
2.
AS REGARDS YOUR DRAFT TIMETABLE (YOUR TELNO 1825) WE WILL ENDEAVOUR TO ENSURE THAT INTER-MINISTERIAL CONSULATION THIS END IS COMPLETED WITHIN THE TIMESCALE IN YOUR DRAFT, BUT THERE CAN OF COURSE BE NO GUARANTEE OF THIS. HOWEVER, WE WILL DO OUR BEST.
HOWE
168
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
121
ΜΑΙΝ
118
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HK
ECD (E)
LIMITED
SPD
HKD
FED
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