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TOP COPY Q DIST ?
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FM FCO
TO DESKBY 260100Z HONG KONG
TELNO 1355
OF 2513OOZ MAY 88
AND TO DESKBY 25210OZ WASHINGTON
HUD 243/7
нид
051122 MDHOAN 6821
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: NEW POLICY: ACTION WITH THE
US
1.
DAVID GILLMORE (DUSS) WILL BE IN WASHINGTON ON 26 AND 27
MAY. NOW THAT EXCO HAVE AGREED THAT THE TIME HAS COME FOR A NEW
POLICY. WE THINK WE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GILLMORE'S VISIT TO
EXPLAIN OUR THINKING TO THE AMERICANS AND PREPARE THE GROUND
FOR A CHANGE OF POLICY SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS, WE SUGGEST THAT GILLMORE SHOULD RAISE THE MATTER WITH SIGUR OVER LUNCH ON 26
MAY.
•
HE SHOULD EMPHASIS THAT NO FINAL DECISIONS HAVE BEEN
TAKEN, AND DRAW ON THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
(A) THERE IS MOUNTING LOCAL PRESSURE IN HONG KONG AGAINST THE
CONTINUATION OF THE PRESENT POLICY OF FIRST ASYLUM FOR ALL
ARRIVALS BY BOAT FROM VIETNAM, IN THE LIGHT OF THE MASSIVE INFLUX OF BOAT PEOPLE AND THE POOR PROSPECTS OF RESETTLEMENT FOR ALMOST ALL RECENT ARRIVALS, PARTICULARLY ETHNIC VIETNAMESE FROM NORTH VIETNAM. OVER 13,000 VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE NOW IN HONG KONG, COMPARED WITH LESS THAN 8,000 A YEAR AGO.
(B) CLEAR THAT RESETTLEMENT ALONE NOT THE ANSWER. MUST EXERT PRESSURE ON VIETNAM TO LIMIT ILLEGAL DEPARTURES, COOPERATE ON ODP,
ACCEPT RETURN UNDER SUITABLE SAFEGUARDS OF THOSE WHO DO NOT
MEET REFUGEE CRITERIA.
(C) IN THE FACE OF THIS NEW CRISIS THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ARE
REVIEWING OPTIONS IN CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH HER MAJESTY'S
GOVERNMENT. BOTH ARE CONSCIOUS OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO
GENUINE REFUGEES.
(D) IF DECISIONS ARE TAKEN THEY WILL NEED TO BE TAKEN RAPIDLY
WE WOULD INTEND TO DISCUSS ANY CHANGE IN POLICY WITH THE US
AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES BEFORE IT IS ANNOUNCED.
(E) WE WOULD APPRECIATE THE US'S VIEWS ON ONE IDEA CURRENTLY
BEING CONSIDERED IN HONG KONG, NAMELY THAT OF SCREENING ON ARRIVAL UNDER UNHCR GUIDELINES. THIS CONCEPT WAS INCLUDED IN THE GUIDELINES DRAWN UP BY THE ICG IN OTTAWA, WHICH THE US HAVE OF COURSE ENDORSED. IN HONG KONG'S CIRCUMSTANCES, SCREENING SHOULD FACILITATE PROPER HANDLING OF THOSE WHO MEET REFUGEE CRITERIA WHILE ARRANGEMENTS ARE PURSUED TO FACILITATE THE EVENTUAL RETURN
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