CONFIDENTIAL
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105652 MDHOAN 7533
HKD 243 8
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON
TELNO 954
OF 06160OZ JUNE 88
AND TO IMMEDIATE OTTAWA, CANBERRA, TOKYO
AND TO ROUTINE EC POSTS, STOCKHOLM, OSLO, HELSINKI, WELLINGTON INFO ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA, HONG KONG
VIETNAM REFUGEES IN HONG KONG: IMMINENT CHANGE OF POLICY
1. MINISTERS ARE URGENTLY CONSIDERING A RECOMMENDATION THAT HONG
KONG SHOULD CHANGE ITS CURRENT POLICY OF GIVING FIRST ASYLUM TO
ALL ARRIVALS BY BOAT FROM VIETNAM
THEY ARE CONSIDERING A NEW
·
POLICY WHICH WOULD INVOLVE SCREENING ON THE BASIS OF UNHCR
GUIDELINES OF ALL BOAT PEOPLE SO AS TO DISTINGUISH THE GENUINE
REFUGEES FROM THOSE ARRIVALS WHOSE MOTIVATION IS ESSENTIALLY
ECONOMIC, AND WHO THEREFORE FAIL TO MEET THE INTERNATIONALLY
ACCEPTED REFUGEE CRITERIA. THOSE DEEMED TO BE GENUINE REFUGEES
WOULD BE ACCOMMODATED IN CAMPS TO AWAIT RESETTLEMENT.
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THOSE SCREENED OUT WOULD BE DETAINED PENDING THEIR REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM, AS SOON AS AGREEMENT ON THIS CAN BE REACHED WITH THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES. THE NEED FOR A NEW POLICY ARISES FROM THE DRAMATIC UPSURGE IN ARRIVALS FROM VIETNAM IN RECENT MONTHS.
WE SHALL ALSO BE CALLING ON RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES TO MAKE RENEWED EFFORTS TO RESETTLE THOSE REFUGEES CURRENTLY IN HONG KONG.
2.
THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED ON 16
JUNE. WE HOPE TO SECURE MINISTERIAL AGREEMENT TO THE POLICY JUNE. WE WILL THEN ISSUE IMMEDIATE INSTRUCTIONS TO WASHINGTON, OTTAWA, CANBERRA AND TOKYO TO EXPLAIN THE NEW POLICY TO THEIR HOST GOVERNMENTS AND TO SECURE THEIR SUPPORT OR AT LEAST
ACQUIESCENCE. THESE POSTS MAY THEREFORE WISH TO FOREWARN THE MFA
CONTACTS THAT THEY WILL NEED TO CALL ON THEM URGENTLY SOON AFTER 7 JUNE. INSTRUCTIONS TO OTHER ADDRESSEES WILL FOLLOW IN SLIGHTLY
SLOWER TIME, MUCH CLOSER TO THE PROPOSED IMPLEMENTATION DATE.
HOWE
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