CONFIDENTIAL
209
041125
MDHIAN 3402
CONFIDENTIAL
FM MANILA
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 155
OF 05070OZ MAY 89
MKD 243/9 нко
AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKMIS GENEVA
INFO ROUTINE HANOI
YOUR TELNO 957 TO HONG KONG: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: POSSIBLE
OVERSPILL CENTRE.
1. THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT ARE LIKELY TO OPPOSE, AT LEAST IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, ANY SUGGESTION THAT AN OVERSPILL CENTRE FOR NEW ARRIVALS AWAITING SCREENING SHOULD BE SET UP ON PHILIPPINE TERRITORY. AS YOU KNOW, THEIR FIRM POLICY IS TO ADMIT TO THE TRAINING CAMP AT BATAAN ONLY THOSE REFUGEES WHO ARE GUARANTERED RESETTLEMENT.
2. THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEY MIGHT BE PERSUADED TO RELAX THIS POLICY SOMEWHAT IN DUE COURSE CANNOT OF COURSE BE RULED OUT. (MANILA TELNO 137 REFERS). BUT THIS WOULD VERY MUCH DEPEND ON A) HOW MUCH PRESSURE WAS APPLIED FROM OUTSIDE, PARTICULARLY BY THE AMERICANS AND B) WHAT FINANCIAL INDUCEMENTS WERE OFFERED. IT IS MOST UNLIKELY THAT THEY WOULD REACH A DECISION SOON ENOUGH TO RELIEVE THE IMMEDIATE PRESSURE ON HONG KONG, PARTICULARLY AS THE FIGURES FOR NEW ARRIVALS IN THE PHILIPPINES ITSELF ARE SHOWING A FAIRLY DRAMATIC INCREASE. (MY TELNO HONG KONG 13 REFERS.)
MACINNES
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
96
DISTRIBUTION
102
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
PUSD
NEWS
PS
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS/MR PATTEN ODA
PS MR EGGAR
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
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CONFIDENTIAL