,77
CONFIDENTIAL
нко MID 24,3/0
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 956
OF 04142OZ MAY 89
1ST ?
INFO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON, UKMIS GENEVA, HANOI, PEKING
0
037730
MDHOAN 0503
FROM HKD AND SEAD: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: THE WAY AHEAD
1.
LORD GLENARTHUR TODAY CHAIRED A MEETING ON THE PROBLEM OF
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG. THE MEETING FOCUSSED ON WHAT ACTION COULD BE TAKEN IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.
LORD GLENARTHUR WILL CHAIR A FURTHER MEETING ON 8 MAY TO
CONSIDER STRATEGY AND TACTICS FOR THE ICIR.
THE FOLLOWING MEASURES WERE AGREED: INFORMING AND LOBBYING KEY PLAYERS.
2. WE SHOULD URGENTLY INFORM OTHER GOVERNMENTS
OF THE VERY SERIOUS SITUATION IN HONG KONG, AND OF THE CONSEQUENT NEED TO FACE UP TO THE PROBLEM OF THE SCREENED OUT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE ICIR. (WE ARE TELEGRAPHING SEPARATELY TO POSTS ABOUT THIS.) ONCE WE HAVE DECIDED ON OUR OBJECTIVES FOR THE ICIR, WE WOULD NEED TO LOBBY THE KEY PLAYERS FOR SUPPORT INTER ALIA IN THE ICG AND COORDINATING COMMITTEE MEETINGS. 3. THE US WAS RECOGNISED AS A PARTICULAR PROBLEM. THEY HAD
WE WOULD NEED TO MAKE A SPECIAL EFFORT TO BRING HOME TO THE AMERICANS THE PRESSURES BUILDING UP IN THE TERRITORY WHICH, IF NOT ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED IN THE ICIR, COULD THREATEN THE FIRST ASYLUM PRINCIPLE. GILLMORE HAS ALREADY MADE THESE POINTS TO THE US AMBASSADOR TODAY. MR MCLAREN PLANS TO VISIT WASHINGTON IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 15 MAY, TO CALL ON OFFICIALS IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL POSSIBLE.
OVERSPILL CENTRE OUTSIDE HONG KONG.
4. WE SHOULD EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF AN OVERSPILL CENTRE WHICH MIGHT BE ESTABLISHED ELSEWHERE IN THE REGION TO ACCOMMODATE NEW
ARRIVALS IN HONG KONG. MIFT SETS OUT OUR THOUGHTS ON THIS. VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME AND SCREENING PROCEDURES
5. WE SHOULD DO MORE TO ENCOURAGE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER TO RETURN. OUR SECOND IFT (NOT TO ALL ASKS WHAT CAN BE DONE TO SPEED UP THE PRESENT SCREENING PROCEDURES, GIVEN THAT SOME PEOPLE MAY VOLUNTEER ONLY AFTER THEIR APPEALS HAVE FINALLY TURNED DOWN.
CONTINUING PRESSURE ON THE CHINESE.
6.
WE SHOULD MAINTAIN PRESSURE ON THE CHINESE
TO STOP COAST HOPPING AND TO DETAIN
THOSE WHO CROSS INTO CHINA BY
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