IT MON
CUNT LEDINELAR
5.
As reported, the persistent theme at this year's Executive Committee was voluntary repatriation. This might have given the Hong Kong authorities an indication that the time was right to go ahead with this further attempt to let the potential Vietnamese departees know that there was no future in their going to Hong Kong. With the numbers of arrivals down so much this year the timing of such a change, or threatened change, in Hong Kong's policy is hard to understand but given the highly political nature of such a move, I assume you will want to make enquiries, if you are not already informed.
6. While Mr Moussalli did not specifically ask that the information he gave me be treated in great confidence, you may think it best not to attribute details to anyone. Perhaps a simple enquiry as to whether Hong Kong is, as we have heard, reconsidering policy towards the boat people would be the best first step? From here, I almost hope that the intention is indeed to up the pressure for the acceptance elsewhere of larger numbers of boat people rather than to threaten the imposition of what UNHCR might consider an inhumane deterrent and a contravention of the agreement reached at the 1979 Conference that all boat people leaving Vietnam would be considered to be refugees. The Americans already dispute this and it is well known that those arriving in Hong Kong now are very different people from those who were leaving at the height of the exodus. Whatever Hong Kong's motives there might be advantage in flush- ing out Vietnamese attitudes, but preferably after some degree of consultation with others rather than by Hong Kong going it alone.
Your micely,
he Warburton.
Dame Anne Warburton
Ambassador
Permanent Representative
CC:
Hong Kong Department
FCO
CONFIDENTIAL
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