TNAG-1534-FCO40-2098-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation-1986 — Page 36

CONFIDENTIAL

(iii) it would provide some prospect, at present lacking,

of a solution to the problem posed by the

places

increasing number of refugees now in countries of

Wy

first refuge who are unqualified for resettlement

for whatever reason;

(iv) it should ultimately enable the Hong Kong Govern-

ment to abolish the closed centres, which have been

-the target of criticism by some civil rights

operations;

No the humane

determine

менно.

(v) it would halt HMG's expenditure of political

capital in pressing resettlement countries to renew

offers of and extend usual criteria for resettle-

ment places;

(vi) it would bring Hong Kong's treatment of Vietnamese

illegal arrivals into line with treatment of

Chinese illegal entrants; and

¡

(vii) it would remove a possible source of trouble with

China in the run-up to the transfer of power in

Hong Kong in 1997.

not really a faces Hey (a present?)

10. There would be certain limiting factors in the

formulation of such a policy.

(i) The assent and cooperation of the authorities in

Indochina would be necessary.

At the moment,

CONFIDENTIAL