Ак
ATTS
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1616
OF 181145Z MAY 89
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 2+3/4
103510
MDHIAN 5268
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, PEKING, HANOI, WASHINGTON
4
OUR TELNOS 1553 AND 1588: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: LEGCO DEBATE
1. THE MOTION SET OUT IN PARAGRAPH 1 OF FIRST TUR WAS DEBATED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 17 MAY. 24 MEMBERS SPOKE IN THE FOUR HOUR
DEBATE AND THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY REPLIED FOR THE GOVERNMENT.
A SUMMARY OF THE MAIN POINTS WAS REPORTED IN SECOND TUR.
2. IN MOVING THE MOTION MR ALLEN LEE ARGUED THAT THE 1979 GENEVA AGREEMENT HAD BROKEN DOWN BECAUSE RESETTLEMENT HAD NOT KEPT PACE WITH
THE RATE OF ARRIVALS. HONG KONG HAD CONTINUED TO PROVIDE FIRST
ASYLUM BUT THE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES HAD FAILED TO MEET THEIR
OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE 1979 AGREEMENT. THE UK MUST TAKE THE LEAD IN THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE ICIR BY PRESSING FOR EARLY MANDATORY REPATRIATION, AN EXPANDED RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMME AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE FIRST ASYLUM COUNTRIES. THE UK MUST ALSO CONSIDER
A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION IN ITS OWN RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMME AND TO MAKE A LARGER FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION, PREFERABLY DIRECTLY TO HONG KONG RATHER THAN VIA UNHCR. MR LEE STOPPED SHORT OF A CALL FOR A
REVIEW OF THE FIRST ASYLUM POLICY BUT MOST OTHER MEMBERS WHO SPOKE
ARGUED THAT IF EARLY MANDATORY REPATRIATION WAS NOT A PART OF THE CPA
THE POLICY SHOULD BE CHANGED.
3. KINGSLEY SIT, FOR EXAMPLE, ARGUED THAT UNDER THE 1951 CONVENTION HONG KONG HAD A RIGHT TO ABONDON FIRST ASYLUM ON THE GROUNDS THAT THE PRESENT INFLUX CONSTITUTED AN EMERGENCY. MR SIT MADE THE POINT, REPEATED BY MOST OTHER MEMBERS, THAT SCREENING WITHOUT REPATRIATION WAS UNTENABLE.
4. MR STEPHEN CHEONG EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR SOCIAL AND POLITICAL INSTABILITY IN HONG KONG IF THE INFLUX
CONTINUED AND IF THE ICIR DID NOT PRODUCE A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION.
SCREENING WAS THE CORRECT POLICY BUT THAT ACTION WAS NECESSARY ON ILLEGAL DEPARTURES, COAST HOPPING AND REPATRIATION.
5. MRS RITA FAN EMPHASISED VIETNAM'S FAILURE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR ITS OWN PEOPLE. THE MAIN TAKS FOR HMG AT THE ICIR WOULD BE TO
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