TABADV (2)
References
CONFIDENTIAL
A:
B:
Hong Kong telno 1824 (text of paper for ExCo)
Hong Kong telno 1825 (draft timetable for implementation of Operation Watchman)
Background
1.
Arrivals
The problem of Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong has deteriorated sharply in recent months. So far this year a total of nearly 3,500 Vietnamese boat people have arrived in Hong Kong (compared with 500 in the corresponding period last year). in May have averaged 120 a day.
day There are now 12,300 Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong as compared with 7,600 at this time last year: an increase of 62%. Of these nearly 10,000 are in the
and in various existing closed camps, which are at bursting point emergency processing and holding centres which have been set up at Green Island and other places to cope with recent arrivals. fourth and possibly a fifth closed camp will be necessary very soon to accommodate these increasing numbers.
2.
A
By contrast, resettlement departures this year amount to 840. 82 of them came to Britain, under our existing commitment to take 20 family reunion cases a month up to May/June 1989.
3.
The
Political pressures in Hong Kong for a change of policy are continuing to grow. The issue was discussed at an OMELCO in-house meeting on 9 May, which the Governor has described as "very hawkish". Miss Lydia Dunn subsequently wrote to the Chief Secretary advising him that with the exception of one member all members were unanimously of the view that the Hong Kong Government should be asked to consider changing the existing first asylum policy. letter recorded that "members strongly feel that Vietnamese boat people arriving in Hong Kong should not automatically be given the status of refugees. Experience over the years has proved the existing policy ineffective as a deterrent against the influx of Vietnamese refugees". The Hong Kong Government are considering how
to reply.
CONFIDENTIAL,
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