CONFIDENTIAL
months ahead. For example, it should be a relatively easy matter for unscrupulous masters, who take part in the commercial traffic in refugees, to arrange for Hong Kong to be entered on their manifests as their scheduled next port of call. The Hong Kong Government therefore intend to use the full force of Hong Kong law (recently toughened for just this purpose) to prosecute masters and, where possible, owners of vessels believed to be involved in the
organized traffic of refugees out of Vietnam for profit.
Argument
(a) Appeal to other governments
5. Apart from the immediate problem of the HUEY FONG, the most
pressing need is for action on Hong Kong's backlog. It would be a
tactical mistake to act with other governments on the basis of the Home Secretary's announcement of a further 1,500 places, so long as the HUEY FONG is still at anchor off Hong Kong. But once the HUEY FONG réfugees have landed or sailed for Kaohsiung (whichever is the case), we should approach selected governments with resettlement
programmes to encourage them to take more refugees from Hong Kong. These could include the US, Australia, New Zealand (the latter
announced, shortly before the recent UNHCR consultations, an intake of 600), Norway, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, the Irish Republic and Denmark. The FRG have already offered to take 250 refugees from the HUEY FONG and 100 from the backlog in Hong Kon We have informed the Hong Kong Government of our intention to recommend this and have sought their comments on countries to be approached. Sir James Murray could take supporting action with the UNHCR and ask him to appeal also on a wider net if he considered it
appropriate.
(b) Action with Vietnam?
6.
Hong Kong, have pointed to the need to persuade the Vietnamese authorities to moderate their policies towards their ethnic Chinese population, to cease their own involvement in encouraging the out- flow and to make proper arrangements for the orderly movement of people from Vietnam. In a separate submission, SEAD are recommendin
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