CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1118
OF 031122Z MAY 88
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA
112
CONFIDENTIAL
122
155547 MDHOAN 5089
HKD 243/8
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
YOUR TELNOS 1539-1598: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
WE HAVE SOUGHT THE PRELIMINARY VIEWS OF MINISTERS ON THE
IDEAS SET OUT IN TURS.
1.
2.
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MINISTERS ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED AT THE DETERIORATING SITUATION WHICH YOU FACE AND RECOGNISE THAT IT IMPOSES A NEED TO REVIEW ALTERNATIVE POLICY OPTIONS. WITHOUT GIVING ANY COMMITMENT ABOUT THEIR EVENTUAL VIEW, THEY ARE CONTENT FOR YOU TO EXPLORE FURTHER THE IMPLICATIONS OF A POLICY UNDER WHICH THOSE NEW ARRIVALS NOT (NOT) CONSIDERED TO BE REFUGEES WOULD BE DETAINED AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS PENDING EVENTUAL REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM. THEY ATTACH IMPORTANCE, AS A COMPONENT OF THAT POLICY, TO ARRANGEMENTS FOR SCREENING ON ARRIVAL SO AS TO IDENTIFY THOSE WHO MEET THE RECOGNISED CRITERIA TO BE TREATED AS REFUGEES AND MAKE APPROPRIATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THEM. THEY RECOGNISE THAT THIS WILL LESSEN THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF A CHANGE OF POLICY: BUT THEY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A PRICE THAT MUST BE PAID FOR AN APPROACH
WHICH IS POLITICALLY AND LEGALLY DEFENSIBLE.
3
MINISTERS ARE HOWEVER VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE RISKS FOR HONG KONG IN THE ADOPTION OF SUCH A POLICY, AND OF THE DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM THAT IT IS BOUND TO INCUR. THEY WILL THEREFORE WISH TO CONSIDER THE MATTER FURTHER, AND WITH GREAT CARE, ONCE YOU ARE READY TO BRING FORWARD DETAILED PROPOSALS. TELEGRAM GIVES ONLY A PRELIMINARY INDICATION OF THEIR THINKING.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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