TNAG-1793-FCO40-2553-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 260

ÁRPAKA (2)

CONFIDENTIAL

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: TIMETABLE FOR ACTION

1. Now that Ministers have approved the proposed change of policy

the following action is necessary before the policy can be announced

and implemented.

(a)

Diplomatic Action

We have already instructed posts to explain the policy to

UNHCR and to the major resettlement countries (the US, Canada,

Australia) and Japan. They will therefore now be aware that the

planned implementation date is 16 June. The UNHCR have already

indicated informally their reservations about the early introduction of screening. It would be counter productive if we were now to appear to be bouncing them by bringing the implementation date

forward. The cooperation of UNHCR over the new policy will be an

important factor in its success.

13 June:

14 June:

15 June:

V

Further action in capitals is planned, as follows:

Vietnam: briefing in Hanoi

China: briefing in Peking and Hong Kong

EC Partners, Scandinavian countries, New Zealand: briefing

in capitals and Hong Kong

Asean countries: briefing in capitals and Hong Kong.

(b)

Legislative Council

The planned timetable has been geared to lead up to the

next meeting of Legco, which takes place on 15 June. The intention

is for the new policy to be announced at that meeting. That

scenario would be very helpful in Hong Kong terms, because it would

enable the Hong Kong Government simultaneously to put various

proposals to Legco for new and urgently required expenditure on the boat people. LegCo have made approval of new expenditure on this problem conditional on a change of policy.