CONFIDENTIAL
075310
MDLIAN 4286
REFUGEES.
ESSENTIAL TO DETER THESE ARRIVALS WHO WERE IN EFFECT
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, AND NEEDED TO BE RECOGNISED AND TREATED AS SUCH. HONG KONG THEREFORE FORCED TO ADOPT NEW POLICY FROM 16 JUNE, WHICH SCREENS ALL ARRIVALS INTO GENUINE REFUGEES OR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS THE
LATTER WILL NOT BE PROCESSED FOR RESETTLEMENT ELSEWHERE, AND WILL BE DETAINED PENDING RETURN TO VIETNAM.
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8. VIETNAM NOT ONLY HAS THE MAIN RESPONSIBILITY BUT ALSO INTEREST IN STOPPING OUTFLOW. URGENT ACTION NEEDED TO ACHIEVE THIS. WE SEE TWO WAYS:
(A)
ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES TO PREVENT ILLEGAL EXIT:
(B) INFORMATION WORK TO SPREAD MESSAGE THAT THERE IS NO RESETTLEMENT
NOW TO UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY FOR NEW ARRIVALS IN HONG KONG.
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9. GLAD TO DISCUSS HOW WE CAN HELP. ORDERLY DEPARTURE PROGRAMME
SHOULD ANYWAY BE ONLY MEANS OF EXIT. THIS SHOULD BE EXPANDED. AS
REGARDS HONG KONG WE ASK VIETNMESE HELP IN PUBLICISING HONG KONG
GOVERNMENT'S POLICY WE HAVE TEXTS OF MESSAGES WHICH COULD BE GIVEN
TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES, PRESS AND RADIO EXPLAINING WHY THERE IS NO
POINT IN GOING TO HONG KONG. WILL HAND OVER AFTER MEETING. CAN ALSO
PROVIDE DETAILS OF PLACES OF ORIGIN AND PORTS OF DEPARTURE OF LATEST
ARRIVALS TO ASSIST IN MEASURES TO STOP FUTURE DEPARTURES.
10.
NEXT
STEP TO AGREE QUICKLY ON ARRANGEMENTS FOR RETURN OF THOSE
DETAINED AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. ESSENTIAL BECAUSE:
(A) THEY ARE VIETNAMESE. THEY CANNOT REMAIN IN HONG KONG. BY LAW MUST
BE REPATRIATED. PRESENCE THERE CREATES VERY BAD IMPRESSION OF
VIETNAM TO THE WORLD:
(B) MOST EFFECTIVE DETERRENT AGAINST FUTURE DEPARTURES IS RETURN OF
BOAT PEOPLE. THIS NEEDS TO START VERY SOON.
11. READY TO
BY SEA AND/OR RETURN.
DISCUSS MODALITIES. HAVE ALTERNATIVE SCHEMES FOR RETURN
AIR. REALISE MUST BE ORDERLY AND PHASED PROGRAMME OF
12. HONG KONG GOVERNMENT READY TO CO-OPERATE IN ORGANISING GROUPS FOR
RETURN AND IN PROVIDING STAFF TO ACCOMPANY THEM. IMMIGRATION STAFF
COULD HELP IN PROCESS OF HANDING OVER BOAT PEOPLE TO VIETNAMESE
AUTHORITIES.
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