TNAG-1279-FCO40-1630-Repatriation-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 59

HKK 24315 RECEIVED IN RESIIPY NO. 51

2 MAR 1983

DISK OFFICER

INDEX

18

See So See 29

CM 3/3

PA (repatriation). (33

(38)

CONFIDENTIAL

GR 123

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 810640Z MAR 83

TO MEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 203 OF 1 MARCH

M.

INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON

MY TELNO 263 : VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.

AT THIS MORNING'S MEETING OF EXCO THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE CONCERN ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF A NEW INFLUX OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES INTO HONG KONG WITH THE ADVENT OF MORE FAVOURABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS. UNOFFICIALS REITERATED THEIR VIEW THAT THE VIETNAMESE NOW ARRIVING BY BOAT MUST BE REGARDED AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND NOT AS POLITICAL REFUGEES. THEY DO NOT THINK THAT THE LOCAL POPULATION WOULD TOLERATE FOR MUCH LONGER THE DISPARITY IN TREATMENT BETWEEN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA (WHO ARE ALL SENT BACK) AND THOSE FROM VIETNAM.

2. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY UNOFFICIALS STRENGTHEN THE CASE FOR ACTION OF THE KIND RECOMMENDED IN MY TEL UNDER REF. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF ARRANGEMENTS COULD BE MADE FOR ME TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSALS IN THAT TELEGRAM WITH LORD BELSTEAD WHILE I AM IN LONDON NEXT WEEK.

YOUDE

Meeting planned for 10/3. Lord Belstend's office agree.

BOAT PEOPLE

LIMITED

SEAD

HK & GD

UND

FED

PUSD

NEWS D KAED

PS

PS/LORD BELSTEAD PS/PUS

MR WRIGHT MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD MR ADAMS MR URE

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION

BOAT PEOPLE

COPIES TO:

MISS WILMSHURST, LEGAL ADVISER HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE

CONFIDENTIAL