WACHOM
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
1983
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HONG KONG TELNO 1471 : VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: INTERDICTION AT SEA
WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS NOT TOO EARLY TO LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE POLICY
AS WELL AS ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS FOR DEALING WITH THE CURRENT INFLUX
OF VBP. OUR OPTIONS ARE TO MAINTAIN FIRST ASYLUM WHILE TAKING FURTHER ACTION TO STEM THE FLOW OF ARRIVALS. THE IDEA OF A SOUTH CHINA REGIONAL HOLDING CENTRE AND OF INTERDICTION BY THE CHINESE AT THEIR SEA BORDER WITH VIETNAM MEET THESE CRITERIA.
2. ANOTHER SUCH OPTION-WE ARE NOW FORCED TO CONSIDER IS
INTERDICTION BY OUR MARINE POLICE ON HONG KONG'S SEA BOUNDARY.
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THIS WOULD AMOUNT TO INTERCEPTING ALL BOATS AS THEY ENTER HONG KONG WATERS. 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 HAVE A PRIMA FACIE CASE FOR REFUGEE STATUS WOULD BE REFUSED ENTRY TO HONG KONG AND TURNED BACK THE WAY THEY HAD COME, IE IN EFFECT BACK TOWARDS MACAU AN THE CHINESE COAST.
3. THERE ARE ABVIOUS INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL DIFFICULTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS APPROACH. BUT IT COULD BE DEFENDED. WE WOULD BE ABLE TO 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.
20
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME VBP WOULD SCUTTLE THEIR BOATS. THESE PEOPLE WOULD BE RESCUED AND MOVED TO A CAMP. HOWEVER THERE IS ATLEAST A CHANCE THAT MOST WOULD ACCEPT THE REFUSAL TO LAND IN HONG KONG, AND TRAVEL BACK TO VIETNAM ALONG THE SOUTH CHINA COAST.
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 AT SEA MIGHT PROVE TO BE OUR ONLY REMAINING OPTION IF WE ARE TO HEAD OFF DEMANDS FOR
ABANDONING FIRST ASYLUM.
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