CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
< PMMEDAATE FCO
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ཨག་? OFME095OZ MAY 89
75
CONFIDENTIAL
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064340 MDHIAN 4464
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MDHIAN 4464
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INFO IMMECTS WASHI
HONG KONG TELNO 1471 VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: INTERDICTION AT SEA
HONWEKBELIEVEN THAT IT IS NOT TOO EARLY TO LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE POLICY
AS
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AS WELL AS ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS FOR DEALING WITH THE CURRENT INFLUX OF VBP. OUR OPTIONS ARE TO MAINTAIN FIRST ASYLUM WHILECAKI NGE / FURTHER ACTION TO STEM THE FLOW OF ARRIVALS. THE IDEA OF A
OF VA
SOUTH CHINA REGIONAL HOLDING CENTRE AND OF INTERDICTION FROM ITHE
CHINESE IAT THEIR SEA BORDER WITH VIETNAM MEET THESE CRETERIAT LUX
F. RT SOU 1
こ
WHILE TAKING
GENE. ANOTHER SUCH OPTION WE ARE NOW FORCED TO CONSIDER IS
THIS
3.
2
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INTERDICTION BY OUR MARINE POLICE ON HONG KONG'S BEAD BOUNDARY. THIS WOULD, AMOUNT TO INTERCEPTING ALL BOATS AS THEY ENTER HONG KONG INTERWATERS. A GREATLY SIMPLIFIED SCREENING PROCEDURE WOULD TAKE PLACE ON THE BOATS OR ABOARD THE MARINE POLICE LAUNCHES. THISE WHO HAVE A PRIMA FACIE CASE FOR REFUGEE STATUS WOULD BE MOVED IMMEDIATELY TO A DETENTION CENTRE FOR SCREENING. THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVEHANERIMA FACIE CASE FORA REFUGEE, STATUS WOULD BE REFUSED ENTRY TO HONG KONGE AND TURNED BACK THE WAY THEY HAD COME JE IN EFFECT BACK TOWARDS MACAU
VA IMMEDIATELY TO A AND THE CHINESE COAST.
CHOUA KHO DO NOT
PRIMA FACIE
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Thy. THERE ARE ABVIOUS INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL DIFFICULTIES ASSOCIATED
WITH THIS APPROACH. BUT IT COULD BE DEFENDED. WE WOULD BE CABLE 46 CLAIM THAT IT MAINTAINS FIRST ASYLUM AND SCREENING. ALSO IT IS THE SAME APPROACH AS THAT TAKEN BY E.G. THE US WITH ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM HAITI HAI:
NA BE JEFENDED. WE WOULD BE ABLE
THE CULTIFS ASSOCIATEC
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4. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME VBR WOULD S
AT SOME VBR WOULD SCUTTLE THEIR BOATS THESE PEOPLE WOULD BE RESCUED AND MOVED TO A CAMP. HOWEVER STHERE IS ATLEAST AFCHANCE THAT, MOST WOULD ACCEPT THE REFUSAL TO LAND IN HONG
KONG, AND TRAVEL BACK TO VIETNAMC ALONG THE RATS. THESE
VIETNAMCALONG SOUTH CHINA COAST.
OP
CAMP. X
5. WE THINK THIS OPTION IS WORTH AN INITIAL ASSESSMENT AND FEASIBILITY STUDY HERE IF THE ICIR FAILS TO PROVIDE A WORKABLE SOLUTION IN A REALISTIC TIMESCALE, INTERDICTION CAT SSEA MIGHT PROVE TO BE TOUR ONLY REMAINING OPTION ITF WE ARE TO HEAD OFF DEMANDS FOR
SESSMENT AND ABANDONING FIRST ASYLUM.
FIRST ASYLUM. IR PATE
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JE ONLY RE
1:
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O PROVIDE & WORKABLE ITT..NDITION AT SEA MIGHT PROVE
WE PAGEIO HEAD OFF DEMANDS FOR
CONFIDENTIAL
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