CONFIDENTIAL
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
OD (K) (89) (4)
SEPTEMBER 1989
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CABINET
DEFENCE AND OVERSEAS
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POLICY COMMITTEE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON HONG KONG
SUDCOMMITTEL
THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
MEMORANDUM BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN
AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
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BACKGROUND
1.
On 29 June, OD (K) considered a Memorandum (OD(K)(89)3) on the outcome of the International Conference on Indochinese Refugees (ICIR) in Geneva on 13/14 June and the follow-up action.
2.
OD (K) agreed that the United States attitude towards
repatriation was difficult to defend. The ICIR had not met the British requirement for the compulsory repatriation to Vietnam of non-refugees. It was right to allow a trial period for the policy of returning non-refugees who would not resist repatriation to Vietnam even if they did not actively volunteer to see whether it would produce results. But if it did not, OD's decision of 8 June to terminate the policy of first asylum as far as Hong Kong was concerned should not be reversed. OD (K) agreed to keep the position
under review.
3.
This paper describes events since OD (K)'s last meeting and considers what action should now be taken to achieve British
objectives.
CONFIDENTIAL