TNAG-1801-FCO40-2561-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-resettlement-in-the-UK-1988 — Page 18

FCS/88/149

CONFIDENTIAL

HKD 243/12

RECEIVEL

ISTRY

1 AUG 1988

"ICER

HOME SECRETARY

PA.

:

#1876

76.

Cc Pl

Ps (hoid Glenarther P3 / Mr.ggar Mr. Gilmore Mr. McLaren

Mr. Calven

Mr. Williams

Mr For Men N|1|8

Miss Slater

W/29/1

Vietnamese Boat People in Hong Kong

1. As I mentioned to you the other day, the Governor of Hong Kong briefed me personally on 20 July on the latest

position on Vietnamese boat people in the territory.

2.

The Governor agreed it is still too early to draw any conclusions about the deterrent effect of the new policy. In the meantime we will intensify our efforts to publicise the new policy in Vietnam and to discourage illegal departures. The BBC are willing to do what they can to help; Sir David Wilson gave an interview to the External

Services on 21 July and this will be broadcast to Vietnam. Our talks with the Vietnamese on repatriation are now fixed for 3-5 August.

3. Sir David Wilson said that the preliminary results of the screening exercise had indicated that very few, if any, of the post 16 June arrivals were likely to be given refugee status. This means that the number of genuine refugees in

Hong Kong (and therefore the number needing to be resettled)

can now be regarded as finite, or virtually so: we are in effect concerned with the resettlement of some 16,000 people (ie the pre 16 June arrivals).

CONFIDENTIAL