CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
CONFIDENTIAL
TO DESKBY 110300Z HANOI
TELNO 144
OF 101515Z JUNE 88
INFO
ROUTINE HONG KONG, UKMIS GENEVA
HKD 243
284
124565 MDHOAN 7937 ́
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
MIPT: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: CHANGE OF POLICY
SPEAKING NOTE FOR USE WITH VIETNAM.
1.
2.
(A) INCREASING FLOW IN ILLEGAL DEPARTURES FROM VIETNAM
CREATING AN INTOLERABLE BURDEN FOR HONG KONG. TOTAL NUMBERS IN HONG KONG NOW OVER 15,600 (10 JUNE) COMPARED WITH ABOUT 8,000 ONE YEAR AGO. OVER 7,000 ARRIVALS THIS YEAR. AVERAGE 100 PER DAY IN MAY, 200 PER DAY SO FAR IN JUNE.
(B) OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF RECENT ARRIVALS ARE ORDINARY VIETNAMESE SEEKING A BETTER LIFE, BUT THE FACT IS THAT THERE IS NO REALISTIC POSSIBILITY OF THEIR BEING RESETTLED. THE
WELL-BEING OF SUCH PEOPLE SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBLITY OF THE
VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT. IT IS ONLY RIGHT THAT THEIR FUTURE SHOULD BE IN VIETNAM.
(C) ONLY LONG TERM SOLUTION IS REPATRIATION IN LINE WITH
ARRANGEMENTS FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.
BOAT
(D) AS FROM 16 JUNE HONG KONG WILL ADOPT A NEW POLICY.
PEOPLE ARRIVING FROM VIETNAM WILL BE TREATED ON ARRIVAL AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. ALL EXCEPT THOSE LATER IDENTIFIED AS GENUINE
REFUGEES WILL BE DETAINED WITHOUT ACCESS TO RESETTLEMENT PENDING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THEIR REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM.
(E) URGE VIETNAM TO INCREASE EFFORTS TO STEM THE FLOW OF UNCONTROLLED DEPARTURES WITH ALL THE RISKS TO LIFE AND UNCERTAIN FUTURE THEY INVOLVE.
(F) URGE VIETNAM TO ACCEPT THE REPATRIATION OF NON-REFUGEES
AND TO GIVE ASSURANCES THAT THEY WILL BE HUMANELY TREATED ON RETURN.
(G) URGE VIETNAM TO COOPERATE BY PUBLICISING IN VIETNAM CHANGE OF POLICY.
(H) SECRETARY OF STATE'S MEETING WITH CO THACH IN NEW YORK.
WELCOME CO THACH'S WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO THE PROBLEM AND TO
CONSIDER ARRANGEMENTS INVOLVING RETURN OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT REFUGEES.
HOWE
YYYY
1
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.