TNAG-1796-FCO40-2556-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 286

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr them N2218

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Mr fick

meeting to take place

ear Splense date not

береже iset fixe

OMS

From: P K Williams

United Nations Department

Date: 8 August 1988

CC:

PS/Lord Glenarthur

PS/Mr Eggar

Mr Gillmore

Mr Slater

Mr McLaren

Mr Colvin, SEAD

Mr Machin, DRU, ODA News Dept

MKD 24318

INDL

22 AUG 1988

OFFICI

GISTRY

20:00 Taken

Mr Hum

нита, HKD

Rue

REC

672

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE

1.

N

As you well know, the International Secretariat of Amnesty International have written to Sir David Wilson about the criteria being used by the Hong Kong Government in screening Vietnamese boat people and the conditions in the camps in Hong Kong. As UND are responsible for FCO relations with the refugee and human rights lobby, we have been wondering whether it would be well worth giving the British Refugee Council (BRC) a briefing on the current position and recent developments.

2.

Earlier contacts with the BRC before the introduction of the new policy in Hong Kong was generally positive and helpful. Lord Chitnis and Dr Barber called on the Secretary of State on 19 May and recognised the need to introduce screening. Their attitude since 16 June has not been unhelpful, though there have been voices of dissent (this is inevitable in an umbrella organisation). My impression is that the continuing flow of boat people and the deteriorating situation in the camps (Hong Kong telno 2906) will provide plenty of ammunition for NGOs to complain about the conditions in the camps and human rights abuses. They are very capable of sparking off press stories, PQs and correspondence campaigns.

588

3. It seems to us that you might consider pre-empting this by discussing the situation with the BRC. We could brief them on the numbers of recent arrivals, the logistic difficulties of accommodating them in the camps, the humanitarian nature of the screening process and (in general terms) our efforts to resolve the problem in negotiations with Vietnam. The downside to this approach is obvious: further pressure for resettlement in the UK and economic aid to Vietnam. But the BRC are already well aware of our policy on these issues and in my view the disadvantages of talking to the lobby are outweighed by the potential benefit of pre-empting a campaign. A meeting would also have value in presentational terms, particularly if individual NGOs raise questions with us.

CONFIDENTIAL

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