CONFIDENTIAL
HKD 243/24
062232
MDHOAN 0991
о
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1006
OF 11180OZ MAY 89
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON, PARIS, HANOI, MANILA
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD
YOUR TELNO 1448: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
1.
YOU MIGHT APPRECIATE A SUMMARY OF THE MINISTERIAL DECISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN HERE IN RESPONSE TO YOUR RECENT TELEGRAMS AND AN ACCOUNT OF HOW WE ARE FOLLOWING THEM UP. MANDATORY REPATRIATION
2. MINISTERS HAVE AGREED THAT OUR OBJECTIVE SHOULD BE TO ACHIEVE AGREEMENT AT THE ICIR TO A CLEAR TIMETABLE FOR REPATRIATION AS RECOMMENDED IN YOUR TELNO 1338 (IE A REVIEW OF PROGRESS ON REPATRIATION 3 MONTHS AFTER THE ICIR, WITH A DEADLINE OF 4 TO 6 MONTHS AFTER THE ICIR FOR THE START OF PHASED REPATRIATION). 3. AS YOU KNOW, ROBIN MCLAREN AND DAVID COLVIN WILL GO TO WASHINGTON ON 15 AND 16 MAY TO TRY TO CONVINCE THE AMERICANS. OF THE NEED FOR THIS. WE HOPE THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND LORD GLENARTHUR
WILL CONVEY THE SAME MESSAGE TO HOCKE ON 15 MAY: THEY WILL BE
BRIEFED TO TELL HOCKE THAT AN EFFECTIVE FOLLOW UP MECHANISM TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THE CPA IS ESSENTIAL AND TO FLAG UP CLEARLY AND PRECISELY WHAT THIS MUST INVOLVE.
OVERSPILL CENTRE FOR REFUGEES IN THE PHILIPPINES
4. MINISTERS ARE KEEN THAT WE SHOULD PUSH THE IDEA
OF AN OVERSPILL CENTRE VERY HARD INDEED. WE HAVE AS YOU KNOW ALREADY STARTED THE BALL ROLLING WITH THE UNHCR AND MANILA HAS REPORTED ON THE CAMP SITUATION IN THE PHILIPPINES. THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND LORD GLENARTHUR WILL BE BRIEFED TO TELL HOCKE ON 15 MAY THAT THIS WOULD BE ONE VALUABLE IMMEDIATE MEANS OF RELIEVING PRESSURE ON HONG KONG AND THAT, WITH THE SITUATION IN THE TERRITORY NOW CRITICAL, IT MUST BE LOOKED AT URGENTLY. ROBIN MCLAREN AND
DAVID COLVIN WILL SEEK TO MOBILISE AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR THIS IDEA. MINISTERS WILL ALSO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE FORTHCOMING VISIT HERE OF THE PHILIPPINES FOREIGN MINISTER MANGLAPUS IN MID JUNE TO PRESS THE CASE.
SOUTH CHINA HOLDING CENTRE
5. MINISTERS HAVE AGREED THAT MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE ON FLESHING OUT THIS IDEA. WE ARE UNDERTAKING THIS URGENTLY (AND
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