TNAG-1788-FCO40-2548-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1988 — Page 253

RE

CONFIDENTIA

HKD 2435

22 AUG 1988

Dise OFFICES

INDEX

PA

VISTR

Tion, Taken

FROM:

DATE:

CC:

file

CO Hum, Hong Kong Dept

19 August 1988

Mr Gillmore

Mr Gore-Booth, Policy Planning Department

122

SES/120

Mr Colvin, SEAD

PROPOSED SEMINAR ON INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES AND HONG KONG

You asked me for my views on the suggestion from SOAS that the FCO should co-sponsor a conference on "Indo-Chinese Refugees and Hong Kong: Context and Prospects"

1.

2.

I assume that our policy is to sponsor a seminar only when we have an active interest in encouraging discussion on a given policy issue, or in tapping the thinking of academics and others in the private sector. This is not the case on the topic proposed by SOAS.

3. I frankly doubt whether any positive benefit would be derived by HMG from the proposed seminar. The issue is a controversial one. It is unlikely that ideas would be put forward which would assist our policy-making. It is far more likely that the seminar would bring together critics of the policies which we and the Hong Kong Government have adopted and encourage them to make common cause. We would be liable to attack on grounds of human rights, international law and humanitarian principle.

We and any Hong Kong Government representatives could put up a strong defence of our policies: but I doubt whether the overall effect would be a positive one.

4.

We

It could of course be argued that there would be benefit in taking the argument to the opposition camp and tackling our critics head-on. I acknowledge the argument: but I do not think that mounting the seminar is the best way to do that. It is a question of timing and targets. In practice we must take on our critics as and when they manifest themselves, particularly in Parliament and the media. have a variety of ways of doing this, ranging from Ministerial briefings to activity through News Department. I think it is most unlikely that a single seminar on a single day in May 1989 would create the conditions which would enable us to take on all our critics collectively and put them to flight.

/...

COYABJ

CONFIDENTIAL