HKB
243
Y
TAY 990
124
STRY
FA 243/548/1
RECEIVE
CISTRY
- 8 JA, 1989
on Taken
DE
INDEX
PA
CALL ON MRS CHALKER BY JIM LESTER MP
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
Points to Make (If raised)
REGIST
Action Tai ma A
2211
19
Burden on Hong Kong has become intolerable over 56,000 boat
people with 34,000 arrivals in 1989. Vital to have a deterrent in
place before this year's sailing season.
Essential to make progress on repatriation at Steering Committee (SC3 (Resumed)) in Geneva on 18/19 January. Voluntary repatriaiton
alone cannot provide a comprehensive solution. of 4,500 screened
out, only 27 have volunteered to return.
Will seek international endorsement of our view that mandatory
repatriation is a part of the Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA).
Monitoring of those returned is important. Hope that UNHCR will
agree to monitor all those returned. Situation similar to that in
Laos where UNHCR monitors all those returned.
In the meantime Lord Ennals and Tim Raison have gone to Vietnam
as independent observers to report to the Foreign Secretary on the
conditions of those who were repatriated on 12 December.
7