CONFIDENTIAL
FM WASHINGTON
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2697
OF 170215Z OCTOBER 89
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
062031
HKB 026,z
そ
MDHIAN 0154
TOP COPY
Q DIST ?
FROM PS GOVERNOR HONG KONG
GOVERNOR'S CALL ON DR. RICHARD SOLOMON, STATE DEPARTMENT 16
OCTOBER.
SUMMARY:
1. USEFUL DISCUSSION WITH DR. SOLOMON, ASST SECRETARY, EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS, ON VBP, HONG KONG CONFIDENCE AND APEF. AMERICANS KEEN TO HELP IN RELIEVING POLITICAL PRESURES IN HONG
KONG ON VBP SHORT OF CONDONING MANDATORY REPATRIATION. SEE
ANNOUNCEMENT ON NEW INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN IN LEGCO ADDRESS AS REAL
CONTRIBUTION TO CONFIDENCE IN THE TERRITORY. SEE LITTLE PROSPECT OF HONG KONG'S INCLUSION IN APEF IN AT LEAST THE FIRST ROUND. DETAIL:
VBP
2. DR. SOLOMON SAID THAT STATE DEPARTMENT ANTICIPATED A MINIMUM
OF TWO YEARS BEFORE A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT ON CAMBODIA WAS LIKELY AND THE WAY MIGHT BE OPEN TO A WIDER SETTLEMENT WITH VIETNAM. HE
ASKED WHAT THE AMERICANS, GIVEN THIS TIME SCALE, COULD DO IN THE MEANTIME TO HELP HONG KONG ON VBP. THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT WE
COULD NOT SURVIVE ANOTHER YEAR ON VBP LIKE 1989. THERE WOULD BE EXTREMELY HEAVY PRESSURE FROM THE LEGISLATURE TO END ASYLUM AND
THE LIKELIHOOD THAT FURTHER FUNDS FOR BOAT PEOPLE WOULD BE
BLOCKED. AGAINST THIS SCENARIO WE HAD UNTIL THE START OF THE NEXT ARRIVAL SEASON NEXT SPRING TO GET FIRM ARRANGEMENTS IN
PLACE TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. IN ANSWER TO DR. SOLOMON'S QUESTION, THE GOVERNOR CONFIRMED THAT WE HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE CHINESE ON THE VBP PROBLEM. THEY HAD TAKEN SOME ACTION ON LAND-CROSSERS AND COAST-HOPPERS, BUT THIS DID NOT ADDRESS THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM. THE RPC CONCEPT MENTIONED BY
MR BAKER COULD PROVIDE SOME RELIEF FOR HONG KONG THROUGH RELEASING ACCOMODATION FOR VBP. A FURTHER INITIATIVE ON UNHCR FUNDING WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL SINCE, IN PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES, THERE WAS A RISK OF UNHCR RENEGING ON ITS EXISTING UNDERTAKINGS.
THIS WOULD BE EXTREMELY DAMAGING POLITICALLY IN HONG KONG. MR. ANDERSON (USCG) NOTED THAT THE INITIAL VBP RESPONSE TO THE
VISIT TO THE CAMPS BY REPRESENTATIVES OF RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES
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