HELD 2435
C OCT 1937
Mr McLaren
PS
CONFIDENTIAL
FROM: C C W Adams, SEAD DATE:
23 October 1987
CC: PS/Lord Glenarthur
PS/Mr Eggar
POLICY TOWARDS VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
Problem
1.
PS/PUS
Mr Gillmore
HKD
UND
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162
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Vietnamese boat people continue to arrive in Hong Kong and other countries of first asylum. In Hong Kong the
There is a numbers are rising, so is public concern. growing consensus among resettlement countries that many are "economic migrants" rather than true refugees and ineligible
The Vietnamese for resettlement. Resettlement has fallen.
are unwilling to stem the outflow or to accept returnees. In these circumstances, the principle of first asylum is
We need to reconsider the options for under genuine threat. durable solutions.
Recommendation
2. I recommend that:
(a) We should continue our support for the Orderly Departure Programme from Vietnam as a mechanism to reduce the pressure for illegal departures.
(b) We should continue to press resettlement countries to maintain or increase their off-take from Hong Kong.
(c) We should work actively for longer-term solutions. These would include arrangements to return to Vietnam those
Such boat people who failed to qualify as refugees. arrangements would have to be multilaterally agreed and supported and include safeguards about the treatment of
We should work with the other main resettlement returnees. countries in the Indo-Chinese Consultative Group (ICG) and bilaterally to achieve this.
(d) If asked, we should be ready to say publicly that we are in touch with the UNHCR and the Vietnamese authorities about the possibility of returning to Vietnam under suitable
MCOABX
CONFIDENTIAL
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