COZADR
CONFIDENTIAL
Shwetary of State
Ll
FROM:
CO Hum
Hong Kong Department
Private Secretary
HONG KONG DEBATE
1.
20
DATE:
13 July 1988
CC:
Mr McLaren
13 JUL 1988
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20
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12
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an intervention
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
1
Varnanese
boar people (additional Point!
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