HUD 243/8
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 1867
OF 170645Z MAY 88
INFO ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA, OTTAWA
TOP COPY DIST ?
175
022540 MDLIAN 7925
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
·
DURING A STOPOVER IN HONG KONG (ENROUTE FROM THAILAND, MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE TO THE PHILIPPINES) ON 16 MAY TM RYAN (ASIA AND PACIFIC PROGRAMS DIVISION, CANADIAN MFA AND MEMBER OF CANADIAN ICG DELEGATION) CALLED ON REFUGEE COORDINATOR.
2. THE MAIN POINT TO MAKE WAS THAT CANADA SUPPORTED THE INTRODUCTION OF SCREENING OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE AS A DETERRENT (UNDERLINED) TO FURTHER ARRIVALS OF ECONOMIC MIGRANTS. RYAN SAID THAT HE ENVISAGED USING A SMALL GROUP OF SCREENED OUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
AS A TEST CASE TO PRESS VIETNAM ON THE RETURN OF SUCH PEOPLE UNDER
SUITABLE CONDITIONS. IN ANY EVENT HE SAW A NEED TO INTRODUCE SCREENING FIRST AS A PRELUDE TO FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS WITH VIETNAM ON THE RETURN OF THOSE SCREENED OUT.
3. ON OTHER ISSUES RYAN SAID THAT THE THAIS SAW THE FORTHCOMING CONFERENCE IN CHA-AM AS IMPORTANT PREPARATION FOR THE ASEAN WORKING GROUP MEETING AND SUBSEQUENT ASEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS CONFERENCE. RYAN SAW VALUE IN HONG KONG PARTICIPATING IN THE CONFERENCE, IF
ONLY AS A MODERATING INFLUENCE.
4. ON FUNDING FOR REFUGEE ACCOMMODATION AND SERVICES IN HONG KONG, RYAN RECOGNISED THAT THE MAIN DETERMINING FACTOR FOR HONG KONG'S DIFFERENT TREATMENT (BY COMPARISON WITH OTHER PLACES OF FIRST
A SYLUM IN THE REGION) WAS NOT HONG KONG'S ABILITY TO PAY. HOWEVER HE DID FEEL THAT THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION WHICH
WOULD CONTINUE TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
WILSON
YYYY
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