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SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 07130OZ FCO
TELNO 2206
OF 07103OZ JUNE 88
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA
SECRET
TOP COP
226
HKD 243/8
107231
MDHIAN 2291
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: OPERATION WATCHMAN
1. PROPOSED TEXT OF SPEAKING NOTE IS AS FOLLOWS
BEGINS
A) NOTE UNHCR'S REQUESTS FOR PATIENCE AND JOINT EFFORTS TO SECURE AN OUTLET FOR THE SCREENED-OUT BEFORE EMBARKING ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SCREEING MECHANISM (UKMIS GENEVA TELNO 304). BUT SIMPLY NOT FEASIBLE TO DELAY THE INTRODUCTION OF MEASURES TO DETER FURTHER ARRIVALS OF ECONOMIC MIGRANTS FROM VIETNAM.
B) TOTAL POPULATION OF BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG NOW OVER 15,000 COMPARED WITH ABOUT 8,000 ONE YEAR AGO. THIS YEAR MORE THAN 6,000 ARRIVALS AS COMPARED WITH 1,000 RESETTLEMENT DEPARTURES. 99 PER CENT OF ARRIVALS ETHNIC VIETNAMESE: 65-70 PER CENT FROM NORTH VIETNAM. MOSTLY FARMERS AND FISHERMEN SEEKING A BETTER LIFE.
C) HONG KONG A SMALL, OVERCROWDED TERRITORY. RESOURCES NOW STRETCHED TO THE LIMIT. LOCAL PRESSURE FOR CHANGE IS MOUNTING AND CANNOT BE IGNORED. DISMAY AND ALARM AT SPIRALLING VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE POPULATION. A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR AFFECTING LOCAL ATTITUDES IS CONTINUING PRESSURE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA. THESE PEOPLE, MANY WITH CLOSE CONNECTIONS IN HONG KONG, ARE ALL REPATRIATED: RECENTLY AT A RATE OF ABOUT 100 PER DAY. RESENTMENT THAT THOSE ARRIVING FROM VIETNAM WITH NO HONG KONG CONNECTIONS ARE
TREATED DIFFERENTLY.
D) WITH THE SHARP DROP IN RESETTLEMENT PROSPECTS AND CONTINUING SHARP INCREASE OF ARRIVALS (WHICH CAN BE EXPECTED TO ESCALATE EVEN FURTHER DURING THE SUMMER WITH THE CHANGE TO FAVOURABLE WINDS), CANNOT SIMPLY PERSIST WITH EXISTING POLICY OF TREATING ALL ARRIVALS AS THOUGH THEY WERE GENUINE REFUGEES.
E) THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAVE REVIEWED POLICY OPTIONS IN CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH HMG. WE ARE BOTH VERY CONSCIOUS OF OUR
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