CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA
TELNO 142
OF 20125OZ MAY 88
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
HKD 243/8
MAY 1988
040605
MDHOAN 6554
TOP COPY
Q DIST ?
OUR TELNO 1287 TO HONG KONG, AND HONG KONG'S TELNO 1931: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: TIMETABLE
MINISTERS ARE CONTENT FOR HEWITT TO MAKE AN INFORMAL APPROACH TO DEWEY ON 25 MAY, SUBJECT TO EXCO'S AGREEMENT THAT HONG KONG SHOULD CONTINUE PLANNING FOR THE NEW POLICY. IN MAKING THE APPROACH YOU SHOULD EMPHASISE THAT IT IS WITHOUT COMMITMENT.
YOU SHOULD DRAW ON THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
(A)
(8)
(C)
(0)
(E)
(F)
THERE IS MOUNTING LOCAL PRESSURE IN HONG KONG AGAINST THE CONTINUATION OF THE PRESENT POLICY 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:
NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN, BUT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ARE REVIEWING OPTIONS IN CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT. BOTH ARE CONSCIOUS OF
THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO GENUINE REFUGEES:
IF DECISIONS ARE TAKEN THEY WILL NEED TO BE TAKEN RAPIDLY. WE WOULD INTEND TO DISCUSS ANY CHANGE IN POLICY WITH UNHCR AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES BEFORE IT IS
ANNOUNCED:
WE WOULD APPRECIATE UNHCR'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 WITH UNHCR PARTICIPATION. IN HONG KONG'S CIRCUMSTANCES, SCREENING SHOULD FACILITATE PROPER HANDLING OF THOSE WHO MEET REFUGEE CRITERIA, WHILE ARRANGEMENTS ARE PURSUED TO ENABLE THE RETURN TO VIETNAM, UNDER SUITABLE SAFEGUARDS, OF THOSE WHO DO NOT MEET THESE CRITERIA. UNHCR WILL APPRECIATE SENSITIVE NATURE OF THIS DISCUSSION. GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD TREAT IT AS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL. (DEFENSIVE LINE TO TAKE IF UNHCR CLAIM THOSE SCREENED OUT ARE OF CONCERN): SCREENING WOULD BE DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNHCR GUIDELINES. FAILED ASYLUM-SEEKERS ARE NOT WITHIN MANDATE. ALL ARRIVALS WOULD BE LANDED AND GIVEN SAFE HAVEN. WE WOULD NOT REPATRIATE UNTIL VIETNAM
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