TNAG-1789-FCO40-2549-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1989 — Page 144

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

Members of Meeting Point

(Nt West Office)

c/o Mrs Choy Chang Yuet-lan 6/F Block 9 Tuen Mun Centre 31 Yan Ching Circuit

Tuen Mun

Telephone 01-

270 2653

Your reference

расска

223

Our reference

PJMAJO

Date

01 December 1988

Dear Mambos

NFD 24315 но

H

Thank you for your letter to HRH The Princess Anne on 17 September 1988, to which I have been instructed to reply.

Your views on the issue of Vietnamese refugees have been noted. Proposal to increase the intake of Vietnamese refugees has been made to the British Government, and a decision will be made in due

course.

With regard to the involvement of the United Nations, the Hong Kong Government and the UNHCR reached a statement of understanding in September 1988 in which the UNHCR reaffirms its intention to use its best endeavours to secure speedy resettlement or other durable solutions for all refugees in Hong Kong.

With the introduction of the new policy of screening and repatriation on 16 June this year the outflow of the Vietnamese boat people to Hong Kong is believed to be reduced. Hong Kong has also entered into bilateral talks with the Vietnamese government. It is hoped that a comprehensive arrangement with the Vietnamese authorities which will include the repatriation of all those persons determined not to be refugees can be made in the not-too-distant future.

I would like to thank you again for the concern you have shown on the Vietnamese refugee matters.

Yours fautifully

PJ Morris

Hong Kong Department