MID 24319
CONFIDENTIAL
221
8 May 1989
FROM:
Lord Glenarthur
DATE:
R
сс
cc Mr Paul
II
CC:
Miss Marsila
Mr Kutum
Mr Haruh
+MA
All Ministers Sir P Wright Mr Caines
Sir J Fretwell
Chief Clerk
Mr Gillmore
Mr McLaren
Mr Slater
Mr Blatherwick Mr Manning, ODA Mr Paul, HKD Mr Colvin, SEAD
Mr Brenton, UND
Mr Millington, FED
Mr Burns, News Dept
Mr Crabbie, RMD
Mr Graham-Harrison, ODA Mr Teasdale
Mr Fraser
Secretary of State
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
I held this morning the further meeting I referred to in my minute of 4 May (of which I attach a copy for ease of reference).
1.
2.
The scene in Hong Kong comes ever closer to crisis point: a further 650 arrivals over the weekend; the four ferries used for emergency accommodation just about full; the Hong Kong Government facing extremely difficult decisions about where to put any further arrivals, and appealing for tents.
The only bright spot to report is the good welcome the Hong Kong Government have given to the measures we launched at the end of last week.
3. We identified four areas for urgent action in addition to those set out in my earlier minute:
(a) MOD and ODA to look urgently at provision of tents.
-
(b) As part of the consideration of possible Regional Holding Centre (s) (RHC) and/or Over-spill Centre(s) on which more below we need more details of what facilities the Philippines already have, eg at Bataan; and of whether these might be developed; together with consideration of how we, together with the US and UNHCR, might persuade the Philippines Government to play ball.
CONFIDENTIAL
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