CONFIDENTIAL
111107
MDHIAN 8983
OPERATE A MORE FLEXIBLE DEFINITION FOR FIRST ASYLUM. IF THE PEOPLE MOVED TO THE CAMP ARE UNSCREENED ASYLUM SEEKERS, UNHCR WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY AVOIDING INVOLVEMENT. THE CAMP MIGHT BE RUN BY UNHCR AND FUNDED THROUGH AN INTERNATIONAL APPEAL. THE CHINESE CONTRIBUTION WOULD BE THE PROVISION OF THE SITE AND PERHAPS PERIMETER SECURITY.
4. SCREENING WOULD BE CONDUCTED AT THE HOLDING CENTRE BY UNHCR OR A VOLUNTARY AGENCY AND THOSE SCREENED IN WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR RESETTLEMENT WITHIN THE TIME LIMITS SET OUT IN THE CPA. THOSE SCREENED OUT WOULD HAVE TO WAIT IN THE HOLDING CENTRE FOR REPATR- IATION AS ENVISAGED UNDER THE ASEAN PROPOSAL.
5.
AT THIS STAGE THE SOUTH CHINA HOLDING CENTRE IDEA SHOULD PROBABLY BE SEEN ESSENTIALLY AS A TACTICAL POINT TO BE PUT TO THE CHINESE. BUT HOWEVER DIFFICULT TO GET ACCEPTED IT HAS THE MERIT THAT IT IS BASED CLEARLY ON THE CPA AND THE CONCEPT OF INTERNATIONAL BURDEN SHARING. CHINA HAS ENDORSED THE DRAFT CPA AT THE KL PREPARATORY MEETING. OUR LINE WOULD BE TO ASK THE CHINESE TO RELIEVE THE BURDEN ON HONG KONG BOTH AS A CONTRIBUTION TO THE CPA AND IN THE INTERESTS OF RESOLVING THE PROBLEM WELL BEFORE 1997. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT IF SUCH A PROJECT WERE TO MATERIALISE IT WOULD REDUCE DRASTICALLY THE NUMBERS COMING TO HONG KONG. INDEED, IT WOULD PROBABLY STEM THE OUTFLOW FROM VIETNAM ALTOGETHER.
6.
IF YOU THINK THAT AN APPROACH TO THE CHINESE ALONG THESE LINES WOULD BE WORTHWHILE WE COULD PROVIDE A PAPER SETTING OUT OUR IDEAS IN MORE DETAIL. WE WOULD THEN CONSIDER WITH YOU AND PEKING HOW AND WHEN OUR PROPOSAL COULD BEST BE PUT TO THE CHINESE. WE HAVE NO ILLUSIONS ABOUT THE LIKELY CHINESE RESPONSE BUT, DESPITE THIS, THERE IS A CLEAR TACTICAL NEED TO PUT TO THE CHINESE NEW CONCRETE PROPOSALS RATHER THAN SIMPLY CONTINUE TO ASK THEM FOR GENERAL ASSISTANCE IN DETERRING COAST HOPPING.
WILSON
YYYY
2
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL