TNAG-0890-FCO40-1100-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 4

Despite constant public comment that the Administration should take a firmer line and not accept any more refugees, no way of doing this under the provisions of the law, international convention or reasonably humane behaviour has been devised. If refugees continue to arrive either in large or small boats there seems no means by which they can be deterred or prevented eventually from landing here. Families who are prepared to leave Vietnam with the prospect that more than 50% will perish at sea are unlikely to be deterred by any measure that a responsible Government, acting lawfully and humanely could devise.

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Faced with a possible Vietnamese refugee population of about 250,000 and the probability that most will remain here for many years, there are various options available which should be examined as follows:

(a) Option 1 is to maintain existing policy as set out in

paragraph 6.

(1)

(2)

The advantages are that

the refugees would be seen locally as temporary residents (for however short a time) and internationally as a continuing liability.

The disadvantages are that

the refugees would continue to need accommo- dation and maintenance,

as the numbers increase the problem of the provision of accommodation and its management would increase to an extent that at some point it can no longer be provided without dispropor- tionate disruption to the local community and to the services which Government provides and as the period in camps will be extensive, problems associated with large numbers of people living at high density with decreasing hope of onward movement will increase.

(b) Option 2 is to maintain existing policy and house the

refugees on an island or isolated area.

(1) The advantages are that

(2)

this would satisfy public opinion and

it might marginally deter refugees from coming.

The disadvantages are that

it would require Government intervention to provide at least water, guaranteed food supply, some shelter and minimum public health

measures.

C.S. 166

CONFIDENTIAL