RESTRICTED
deterring departures from Vietnam in 1990. This trend had not
continued. The camps in Hong Kong would be full by the end of July
at the latest. First asylum would be the most important issue in the forthcoming LegCo elections. Hong Kong would continue with
first asylum while it could. But by October the newly elected LegCo
could well pass a motion calling for it to be abandoned. The Hong Kong Government would then be forced into a constitutional crisis
with HMG.
4.
Mrs Lam handed over a letter to the Prime Minister from the
Chairmen of the District Wards. She said that the people of Hong
Kong could no longer tolerate the burden the Vietnamese migrants placed upon Hong Kong's facilities. They were also worried about
potential disorder within the camps. Mrs Lam called on HMG to persuade the US to agree to mandatory repatriation, otherwise Hong
Kong would be forced to abandon first asylum. She also asked for a
clear indication of HMG's position to pass on to the Chairmen of the
District Wards with whom she would be dining on her return to Hong
Kong on 13 June.
5. Mrs Tu also expressed concern at the possibility of disorder
within the camps. She said that the crime rate in the camps had
grown. Those guarding the camps were fearful of violence, was low, and recruitment becoming increasingly difficult.
MOVIE.
6. The Secretary of State said that although the Governor reported fa.thfully on the conditions within the camps and the views of ExCo
and OMELCO he was grateful for this first-hand account of the situation in Hong Kong. He himself had visited a District Ward annual general meeting and had come away with the impression that of all the issues affecting Hong Kong, opinion was strongest and most united on the question of Vietnamese migrants. He appreciated that the camp population was approaching crisis levels and that many people in Hong Kong wanted to abandon first asylum. But before taking such a step, it was important that they consider the consequences. The bad publicity which would result would severely danger Hong Kong's image and its wider interests. The best policy
was not to abandon first asylum but to make the present system work.