CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2556
OF 041107Z JULY 88
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA
INFO ROUTINE CANBERRA
CONFIDENTIAL
441
017702
HKD
243/8
MDHIAN 5859
TOP COPY Q DIST 7
YOUR TELNO 1754: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: AUSTRALIAN
POSITION
I WAS GRATEFUL FOR THE REPORT OF THE DEMARCHE MADE BY THE
AUSTRALIAN MISSION IN GENEVA.
2=
I WELCOME HOCKE'S STATEMENT THAT UNHCR WAS NOT OPPOSED TO SCREENING IN PRINCIPLE. IT IS A PITY THAT DESPITE ACCEPTANCE OF THE PRINCIPLE OF SCREENING THEY ARE TAKING THE POSITION THAT THEY WILL NOT SEND EXPERTS TO HONG KONG UNLESS WE AGREE TO
·
MODIFY OUR POLICY EVEN THOUGH WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF UNHCR'S ADVICE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SCREENING PROCEDURES, AND IN PARTICULAR HOW THE 1951 CONVENTION CRITERIA MIGHT BE APPLIED IN PRACTICE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE, I SEE NO REASON TO SEEK IT AT THE EXPENSE OF WEAKENING OUR POLICY.
3. OUR MAIN CONCERN AT PRESENT IS THAT THE NEW POLICY SHOULD PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE DETERRENT (SEE MY TELNO 2535). ANY SUGGESTION THAT WE WERE PROPOSING TO MODIFY IT WOULD UNDERMINE THIS OBJECTIVE. AT THE SAME TIME WE WISH TO START DISCUSSIONS WITH THE UNHCR ABOUT
THE COSTS OF ACCOMMODATING BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG. IT IS CONCEIVABLE THAT, IN THE COURSE OF THESE NEGOTIATIONS, SOME PROSPECT OF A DEAL MAY EMERGE WHICH WOULD GO SOME WAY TOWARDS
MEETING UNHCR'S CONCERNS WITHOUT ADDING TO OURS.
WILSON
YYYY
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CONFIDENTIAL