TNAG-1568-FCO40-2134-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 114

FCOAOR

CONFIDENTIAL

PUS' LUNCH WITH SIR BRIAN CUBBON, PERMANENT SECRETARY AT THE

HOME OFFICE

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG

Points to make

1.

Issue of continuing serious concern in Hong Kong. Raised by visiting EXCO delegation with Ministers this week. Particularly difficult issue at the moment: rate of new arrivals in Hong Kong has increased this

this year after several years' decline, but our present resettlement programme is coming to an end.

2.

This issue

-

which we all recognise as a very intractable one creates real strain on HMG's relationship with Hong Kong. Hong Kong people would prefer all new Vietnamese arrivals to be repatriated, if necessary forcibly as are illegal immigrants from China, many of whom have close relatives in Hong Kong. Our Ministers consider that forcible repatriation

to Vietnam would be politically

unacceptable in current circumstances.

3. Only viable alternative is overseas resettlement (Hong Kong is far too crowded to accept more than a small proportion for local settlement). Inevitably both Hong Kong and other "resettlement countries" look to us to take a lead in resettling refugees from Hong Kong as a British dependent territory. We have a moral and political responsibility to do so.

4.

Appreciate difficulties that UK resettlement poses for your Ministers. But in short term very hard to see any alternative to some kind of continuing UK programme, in order to stimulate others

Real risk of severe political difficulties with

also to do more.

Hong Kong if we do not do all we can to help.

CONFIDENTIAL