CONFIDENTIAL CORRECTED VERSION
358,
020150
MDLIAN 1068
CONFIDENTIAL
CORRECTED VERSION
FM CANBERRA
HKD 340:1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
SEP 1990
DESK
-FILES
TO PRIORITY FCO
'NDEX
TELNO 827
OF 17030OZ SEPTEMBER 90
INFO PRIORITY HONG HONG
~ V
*ker
Para 4
INFO ROUTINE BANGKOK, JAKARTA, KUALA LUMPUR, SINGAPORE, MANILA INFO ROUTINE BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, OTTAWA, PARIS, TOKYO
INFO ROUTINE WASHINGTON, HANOI, PEKING, UKMIS GENEVA, UKMIS NEW YORK
HONG KONG AND VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
SUMMARY
1. HOME SECRETARY DISCUSSES VBP'S WITH AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (EVANS) AND THE MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION (HAND). AUSTRALIA REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE CPA BUT IS LIKELY TO PLACE GREATER EMPHASIS ON VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION. LITTLE JOY ON SPECIAL SCHEME FOR RIGHT OF ABODE FOR HONG KONGERS IN AUSTRALIA.
DETAIL
2. WHEN THE HOME SECRETARY CALLED ON SENATOR EVANS ON 12 SEPTEMBER HE ASKED ABOUT CURRENT AUSTRALIAN ATTITUDES TOWARDS MANDATORY REPATRIATION. EVANS SAID AUSTRALIA REMAINED COMMITTED TO THE CONCEPT OF MANDATORY REPATRIATION. HE HAD SPOKEN TO HAND FOLLOWING HIS VISIT TO THE REGION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MANDATORY REPATRIATION AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CPA WAS STILL RECOGNISED. EVANS MENTIONED DOMESTIC CRITICISM OF MANDATORY REPATRIATION BUT SAID THIS WAS NOT A SERIOUS PROBLEM. HE ALSO MENTIONED US PRESSURE ON THIS ISSUE.
3. AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING WITH THE MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION HAND TOOK A DIFFERENT LINE FROM EVANS. HAND SAID THAT NOBODY WANTED MANDATORY REPATRIATION AND HE DOUBTED WHETHER THE VIETNAMESE COULD BE INDUCED TO AGREE TO IT. MORE EMPHASIS SHOULD THEREFORE BE GIVEN TO VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION. HIS TOUR OF THE REGION HAD CONVINCED HIM OF THE NEED FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN SCREENING PROCEDURES. HE THOUGHT THAT SOME OF THE DEFICIENCIES WERE DUE TO LACK OF RESOURCES. HE SAID THERE WAS A NEED TO DISCUSS THESE ISSUES FURTHER WITH THE AMERICANS. HOWEVER HE DID REITERATE THAT AUSTRALIA WAS ''TOTALLY COMMITTED'' TO THE CPA.