TNAG-1792-FCO40-2552-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 169

ARPAIV

CONFIDENTIAL (COVERING SECRET)

ния 24318

110 MAY 188

FROM : CO Hun

DATE :

CC

Hong Kong Department

10 May 1988 2

PS/MrEggar

3

蕊

PS/Lord Glenarthur

Mr McLaren o.r.

148

Mr Fifoot, Legal Advisers

Mr Thomas, SEAD

Mr Williams, UND

Mr Gillmore

Private Secretary

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG

Problem

2

1. The problem of Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong is

continuing to deteriorate with increasing rapidity. It is likely to

be the dominant issue during the Secretary of State's forthcoming

visit to Hong Kong. This submission:

i) brings Ministers up to date on the situation, and on the

Hong Kong Government's current thinking; and

ii)

considers the implications for the Secretary of State's visit

and how we should prepare for that visit.

Recommendation

2.

I recommend that we:

i)

authorise the Hong Kong Government to continue their detailed planning for a possible change of policy on a timetable which

will involve consultation of ExCo in late May and a target

CONFIDENTIAL