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Mr Fritha
Mr Mw wich
Mr Colvin, SEAD
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11/5
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CONFIDENTIAL
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HKD 24319
FROM:
PS/Lord Glenarthur
DATE: 10 May 1989
(223
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
1. I attach the top copy of the Private Secretary's minute of 9 May, together with the other recent minuting on this subject. You will no doubt wish to enter these in your files.
2.
Lord Glenarthur would be grateful if you, in conjunction with HKD, could continue to follow up vigorously on the various action points to have emerged. Three further points arise from
Mr Peirce's minute:
(a) further impetus behind the idea of an Over-spill Centre;
(b) briefing for Secretary of State's meeting with Dumas on 15 May;
(c) the suggestion that proposals be put to OD in due course, which
Lord Glenarthur thinks a good one.
3.
Lord Glenarthur found Mr Howell's remarks reported in Mr Peirce's minute most revealing. The difference, of course, is that the boat people are only too happy to continue their journeys. East from China and/or Macau to Hong Kong. Any attempt to move them further on from Hong Kong would be bound to meet with resistance and be seen as "pushing off", with all that that entails.
10 May 1989
PS
CC: PS/All Ministers
PS/PUS
Mr Caines
Sir J Fretwell Chief Clerk
Mr Gillmore
Mr McLaren
Mr Slater
Mr Blatherwick Mr Manning, ODA
Robert Court
Robert Court
PS/Lord Glenarthur
Mr Paul, HKD
Mr Brenton, UND
Mr Millington, FED
Mr Burns, News Dept
Mr Crabbie, Finance Dept Mr Graham-Harrison, ODA Mr Teasdale
Mr Fraser
CONFIDENTIAL