TNAG-1279-FCO40-1630-Repatriation-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 49

pa (Repatriation). 71%

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Ministers

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CONFIDENTIAL

Mr Donald

PS/Lord Belstead

CC: SEAD

UND

Mr Burrows, Legal Advisers

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG

1.

attatched

A

4KK 243/3 15

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C

(16)

HKK 243/5

+KK 243/5

RECEIVED IN REGS(PY NO. $1

1 1 MAR 1983

DESK OFFICER INDEX

PA

REGISTRY Action Targ

снов

When Lord Belstead discussed Vietnamese refugees with the Governor on 28 January he pointed out that repatriation posed difficulties for HMG. The Governor said that he fully understood HMG's position but urged nevertheless that HMG approach the Vietnamese Government on the subject.

2.

The Secretary of State commented on 31 January that he had reservations about the idea of repatriating Vietnamese refugees. He was concerned that, even if we were to get some satisfactory sounding assurances from the Vietnamese, these would not have much credibility. He suggested that we should consult our Ambassador in, Hanoi before instructing him to approach the Vietnamese. The Ambassador's view was also that there seemed little likelihood of our obtaining satisfactory assurances from the Vietnamese concerning the treatment that those repatriated would receive on their return to Vietnam.

3.

The Governor of Hong Kong has asked for a meeting with Lord Belstead in order to discuss repatriation. He will probably speak along the lines of Hong Kong telegram number 263 of 23 February which proposes that HMA Hanoi should be instructed to probe Vietnamese attitudes in an effort to establish whether they would in fact be prepared to accept repatriated boat people and what scale of punishment they contemplated. This would be in the hope that sufficient cooperation and adequate guarantees could be obtained from the Vietnamese to enable Hong Kong to treat the refugees as illegal immigrants in precisely the same way as they treat illegal immigrants from China.

4.

This

There is considerable concern among Unofficial Members of the Executive Council at the prospect of a new influx when weather conditions alter in the summer. Already the numbers now in Hong Kong are higher than at the same date a year ago. reflects decreased opportunities for resettlement and, on present trends, we can expect a significant net increase in numbers during 1983. Moreover, public opinion in Hong Kong sees the Vietnamese as illegal immigrants arriving from economic motives rather than as political refugees. It is increasingly

CONFIDENTIAL