TNAG-1425-FCO40-1908-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 224

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Mr Hartland-Swann, SEAD

DATE: 23 April 1985

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Sir W Harding Dr Wilson

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Mr Galsworthy, HKD

COPY

FOR

CALL ON MR LUCE BY MR MICHAEL PIKE

1.

Mr Michael Pike, until recently our Ambassador in Hanoi, called on Mr Luce on 22 April. The following points emerged:

(a) Vietnamese refugees: Mr Pike saw no evidence to suggest

that the exodus of refugees from Vietnam would increase. He felt that unless there were disastrous weather conditions, the number of Vietnamese leaving would hover around 20-25,000 per year for the next three or four years. The refugees came from all areas of Vietnam but could be sub-divided into two main groups: firstly, those of Chinese origin who were concentrated in the South around Ho Chi Minh city, and secondly the ethnic Vietnamese from the agricultural areas in the North. The Chinese, mainly immigrants from the late 19th and early 20th centuries and of mainly Cantonese origin, aimed for other countries of South East Asia for resettlement. The Northerners, on the other hand, were primarily economic emigrants who, being poorly off and seeing little future for their children, sought refuge in Hong Kong out of a lack of hope rather than political persecution. Mr Pike felt that good interro- gation should be able to uncover whether the refugee was genuinely seeking to escape persecution or was merely seeking a better life.

(b) Repatriation: In answer to the Minister's question, Mr Pike

said that it was clear that the Vietnamese authorities would not accept any form of involuntary repatriation. Their line was the people in question had decided to abandon the revolution, they were disloyal and it would cause the authorities serious security problems to accept them back. They were prepared, however, to accept voluntary repatriation on a case-by-case basis, although they were determined to discourage a form of "tourism" whereby Vietnamese were tempted to go to Hong Kong to try to make a better living and if that failed sought repatriation to Vietnam.

(c) Closed camps: Mr Luce asked whether the message about the

closed camps in Hong Kong had got back to Vietnam. Mr Pike replied that the closed camps policy was well-known in Vietnam but it was no longer a deterrent for those determined to leave. The standard of living within the camps was generally better than in Vietnam anyway.

/ (d)

CONFIDENTIAL