TNAG-1755-FCO40-2475-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1988 — Page 164

- COZADR

CONFIDENTIAL

FROM:

CO Hum

lile

134

Hong Kong Department

HKB

040/2

DATE:

13 July 1988

MELE

Mr McLaren

Private Secretary

14 JUL 1988

INDEX

HONG KONG DEBATE

1.

Please refer to Mr Peirce's minute of 12 July, recording three

points that have occured to the Secretary of State.

Vietnamese Boat People

2.

I take the Secretary of State's point. The argument which he has identified could however be extended to cover any boat people who, for whatever reason, were in ignorance of the change of policy when they arrived in Hong Kong. I think it has to be dealt with firmly, perhaps on the following lines:

"It was necessary to introduce the new policy in Hong Kong at

short notice. If an announcement had been made some time before the policy was put into effect this could have had the undesirable "pull effect" of stimulating departures from Vietnam of boat people hoping to reach Hong Kong before the new policy was implemented. I do not feel that the treatment of arrivals after the introduction of the new policy can be determined by whether or not the individuals concerned were aware of the new policy. But arrangements have of course been made to ensure that those arrivals with a genuine claim to refugee status will continue to have access to

resettlement".

Entry Refusal Cases

3. I have discussed this point with Mr Peirce. It is notoriously difficult to get swift action out of the Home Office. We agreed

CONFIDENTIAL