PS/Lord Glenarthur
CONFIDENTIAL
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Mr Kortman
M Mermill
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1115
Vietnamese Boat People
The Secretary of State has seen Lord Glenarthur's minute of 8 May. He agrees with the areas of action set out in that minute. He is particularly keen that we should push the idea of annarsplit 1 very hard indeed; an early off-take of 15,000 boat people from Hong Kong would be a major help.
The Secretary of State has noted that the French are being difficult and would be ready to discuss this with Dumas when they next meet (on Monday 15 May).
The Secretary of State wonders whether he should hold an office meeting at this stage, and if proposals should then be put to OD.
As I have recorded in a separate minute, the Secretary of State discussed Vietnamese boat people among other Hong Kong issues with Mr David Howell at Chevening last weekend. Mr Howell had been struck by the fact that the Chinese and the Macanese pushed the boat people along the coast in the direction of Hong Kong. He wondered why Hong Kong had never done the same, ie refuelled and revictualled the voyagers and sent them on their way eastwards. The problem here is of course that the boat people are heading for Hong Kong and do not wish to stop in China or Macao. But it is interesting that the Chairman of the FAC is thinking in these terms, and you may wish to consider what use we can make of it.
9 May 1989
CC: PS/All other Ministers
PS/PUS
Mr Caines
Sir J Frewtell
Chief Clerk
Mr Gillmore
Mr McLaren
Mr Slater
Mr Blatherwick Mr Manning, ODA
(R N Peirce)
Mr Paul, HKD
Mr Colvin, SEAD
Mr Brenton, UND
Mr Millington, FED
Mr Burns, News Dept
Mr Crabbie, Finance Dept
Mr Graham-Harrison, ODA Mr Teasdale
Mr Fraser