TNAG-1748-FCO40-2467-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1988 — Page 298

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Private Secretary

116.

113 MAY 1988

FROM:

CO Hum

11 12

Hong Kong Department2

DATE:

3

13 May 1988 8

4.

Cc:

PS/Lord Glenarthors

Mr Gillmore

Mr McLaren o.r.

Mr Meyer, News Department

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE

A

1. Hong Kong telno 1829 considers the relative advantages of a visit by the Secretary of State to the Green Island Reception Centre rather than the closed centre at Chi Ma Wan. Green Island is a tiny island just off the North-West corner of Hong Kong Island. The reception facilities there are no doubt, as the telegram warns, very crowded and rudimentary.

2. If the Secretary of State goes to Green Island:

3.

4.

he would gain a better appreciation of the impact of the recent wave of arrivals;

but he would be identified much more closely with the anticipated change of policy, and the pressure on him to express HMG's support would be that much greater;

the visit could attract adverse publicity to the rudimentary conditions in the Centre (and by extension associate the Secretary of State with them).

If the Secretary of State goes to Chi Ma Wan:

presentationally it would be more manageable;

but he could be accused of ducking the real problem facing Hong Kong.

On balance I recommend that he go to Green Island despite

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