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CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 15080OZ FCO
TELNO 2293
OF 1504OOZ JUNE 88
INFO DESKBY 15080OZ UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON
304
303
135772
MDHIAN 3392
WASHINGTON TELNO 1498, UKMIS GENEVA TELNO 353 AND YOUR TELNO 1537: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
·
IN THE LIGHT OF THE REACTION FROM UNHCR AND THE US GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE MADE SOME CHANGES TO THE WARNING NOTICE TO BE GIVEN TO THE
NEW ARRIVALS AND THE MESSAGE FOR INCLUSION IN MAIL TO VIETNAM.
THESE ARE DESIGNED TO REDUCE AND I HOPE ELIMINATE THE RISK OF ANY
HOSTILE PUBLIC REACTION FROM EITHER QUARTER WITHOUT SERIOUSLY
REDUCING THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF THE MESSAGES. THE LATTER IS A
CRUCIAL POINT.
2. THE TEXTS OF THESE NOTICES ARE NOW AS FOLLOWS:
BEGINS
''(I) NOTICE TO BE GIVEN TO NEW ARRIVALS. WARNING NOTICE. THERE IS
A NEW POLICY IN FORCE IN HONG KONG. FORMER RESIDENTS OF VIETNAM
SEEKING TO ENTER HONG KONG AS ECONOMIC MIGRANTS ARE NOW TREATED
AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. YOU ARE FREE TO LEAVE HONG KONG. IF YOU
CHOOSE TO CONINUE YOUR JOURNEY YOU WILL BE GIVEN FOOD AND WATER AND
IF NECESSARY, YOUR BOAT WILL BE REPAIRED. IF YOU DO NOT LEAVE HONG KONG AND ARE FOUND TO BE AN ECONOMIC MIGRANT, YOU WILL BE DETAINED AS AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT PENDING REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM.
(II) MESSAGE FOR INCLUSION IN MAIL TO VIETNAM. THERE IS A NEW
POLICY IN FORCE IN HONG KONG. FORMER RESIDENTS OF VIETNAM SEEKING
TO ENTER HONG KONG AS ECONOMIC MIGRANTS ARE NOW TREATED AS ILLEGAL
IMMIGRANTS AND DETAINED PENDING REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM: THEY WILL
HAVE NO ACCESS TO RESETTLEMENT IN THIRD COUNTRIES. RESIDENTS OF
VIETNAM ARE STRONGLY ADVISED NOT TO LEAVE VIETNAM ILLEGALLY TO COME
TO HONG KONG WHERE THERE IS NO FUTURE FOR THEM.
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3. GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD AUTHORISE UKMIS GENEVA AND WASHINGTON
TO EXPLAIN THESE CHANGES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE ARE TAKING ACTION
WITH THE US CONSUL-GENERAL AND THE UNHCR CHARGE D'AFFAIRS IN
HONG KONG.
4. WE WILL TELEGRAPH THE TEXT OF THE CS'S STATEMENT IN LEGCO
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