RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1829
OF 13111OZ MAY 88
RESTRICTED
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
(110)
HRB 027/3
012715
MDHIAN 9359
YOUR TELNO 1070: SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT
WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING WHETHER THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHOULD VISIT THE GREEN ISLAND RECEPTION CENTRE RATHER THAN THE CLOSED CENTRE AT CHI MA WAN. GREEN ISLAND IS WHERE WE FIST LAND ALL NEW ARRIVING BOAT PEOPLE AND WHERE WE CARRY OUT THE INTIAL INTERVIEWING TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THEY ARE INDEED VRS OR ECVIIS OR IIS. ARRIVALS ONLY STAY THERE A SHORT TIME. FACILITIES ARE ACCORDINGLY PRETTY BASIC PARTICULARLY WITH THE LARGE NUMBER OF RECENT ARRIVALS.
2. GREEN ISLAND WOULD BE CONSIDERABLY MORE NEWSWORTHY THAN CHI
MA WAN. IT WOULD GIVE THE SECRETARY OF STATE A BETTER APPRECIATION OF THE IMPACT OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF RECENT ARRIVALS. HE WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO SEE FOR HIMSELF WHAT SORT OF PEOPLE THE NEW ARRIVALS ARE AND THE BOATS IN WHICH THEY COME TO HONG KONG.
3. GETTING TO GREEN ISLAND WOULD INVOLVE A JOURNEY OF ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES ON THE LAUNCH TIN HAU, INSTEAD OF A HELICOPTER TRIP. WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THE SAME SORT OF ARRANGEMENTS FOR PRESS COVERAGE ON GREEN ISLAND AS AT CHI MA WAN.
4. I SEE SOME ADVANTAGES IN THE ALTERNATIVE PLAN EVEN THOUGH THE PRIMATIVE CONDITIONS COULD ATTRACT ADVERSE PUBLICITY OVERSEAS IN ADDITION TO SHOWING THE PROBLEMS WE FACE.
WILSON
YYYY
1
PAGE
RESTRICTED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.