TNAG-1795-FCO40-2555-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 52

SECRET

ANNEX A TO XCSI(88) 1

XCS (88) 10 Copy No..

For decision

on 24 May 1988

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMORANDUM

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE

THE PROBLEM

In recent weeks greatly increased numbers of Vietnamese boat people have arrived in Hong Kong

Kong causing a severe strain on facilities for their reception and accommodation. A large majority of Vietnamese boat people are thought to be economic migrants and not genuine refugees fleeing persecution. This view is shared by other places of first asylum in

in the region and, more importantly, by the resettlement countries who are increasingly unwilling to accept them for resettlement as refugees. As a result Hong Kong is faced with a a rapidly increasing population of boat people from Vietnam for most of whom resettlement prospects are virtually non-existent.

RECOMMENDATION AND ADVICE SOUGHT

2

It is recommended that agreement in principle should be given for

3

(a)

(b)

-

continued planning of a new policy on the lines of option 2 in paras. 14 15 below with a view to deterring new arrivals of Vietnamese boat people by the detention pending repatriation of those who, after screening, are not accorded refugee status;

submission of a plan for implementation of the proposed new policy, including the screening procedure, upon clearance with HMG.

Members will be asked to advise whether the above recommendation should be approved.

4

A

BACKGROUND

Repatriation

On 8 December 1987, Members considered Memorandum XCC (87) 179 (Annex A) and agreed, inter alia, that Hong Kong should continue with the closed centre policy while requesting HMG to pursue the repatriation of newly arrived economic migrants with the Vietnamese Government both bilaterally and internationally.

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