TNAG-1279-FCO40-1630-Repatriation-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 51

C

(v)

7.

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if repatriates were ill-treated after their enforced return to Vietnam, we could ourselves be in breach of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

For these reasons SEAD consider that the problems for HMG in agreeing to approach the Vietnamese would outweigh any conceivable benefits to our relations with Hong Kong. If Hong Kong's objective is to put pressure on the Americans to discard their current distinction between "economic migrants" and "refugees", this could equally well be done by direct representations in Washington.

8.

It has not been possible to agree on a draft minute for Lord Belstead to send to the Secretary of State, as originally intended. I submit points to make for Lord Belstead to use at his meeting with the Governor, which has been fixed for 11.45 am on Thursday 10 March. These have been cleared with SEAD.

Дир

9 March 1983

R D Clift

Hong Kong and General Department

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agree wit the speaking pouts.

I myself would not must the Kreinamese

Government to keep any promises and I fully take

from

That

about the departition my pay standen approach

[

SEAD's point

point about

would involve.

I wonder, however, whether it would [ with not be necessary to "go Ibragh the motions & private line Hanoi if only to

if only to show that we were sympathetic to

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Hagkay's plight. But I would not expect any

response

Pa

or response which we could

Hamar. (Nor do I fully accept that sending

is the same as

back Chinese to Guangdong repalmatig Vietnamese.)

vely

crast while

m

-from

Astmald

9/3