TNAG-1532-FCO40-2096-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-closed-camp-policy-1986 — Page 21

CONFIDENTIAL

(b) the fact that the vast majority of these

"refugees" claimed to be seeking better

economic prospects rather than to be fleeing from political persecution; and

(c) the problems posed thereby for resettlement

countries and countries of first asylum.

We envisage that our first efforts within the Group would be to establish what common ground might exist. We should need to consider in due course how and when places of first asylum might be brought into these consultations. initial view is that, subject to the views of Honolulu Group members, they might be brought in around early 1987.

7.

Our

We understand that our request to be involved in

at be discussed

a Group Honolulu Group discussions will meeting in Geneva on 11 October. Most members of the Group

reacted

to positively

the for our request, except Australians, who initially doubted whether the UK should be

involved.

It would be ideal if the question of inclusion in the Group could be resolved swiftly, we could participate in the meeting on 11 October. is not possible, we should aim at least to deploy the points to make with members of the Group during EXCOM.

our

so that

If this

Rescue at Sea

Establishment of a Ship Rescue ("RASRO") Transit Centre in Hong Kong

8. Hong Kong and UNHCR agreed in principle in February to establish a ship rescue transit centre in Hong Kong, after down; it negotiations to site it in the Philippines broke is now operational; its costs are met by UNHCR.